Editor's note: This is an updated version of a post that was originally located on techsoupforlibraries.org.
You may have heard about the Hour of Code, a fun event to get students interested in computer science.
The Hour of Code can happen at any place (like the library or at home!) at any time.
The Hour of Code doesn't necessarily need to only be an hour, either. You can turn it into a weekly class or a regular event for patrons to work on coding projects. I've compiled some ideas and tutorials from Hour of Code as well as from a short presentation from the Santa Clara County Library in California on coding for teens at a California Library Association annual conference.
If you've never done one before, putting together a coding class or event might seem daunting. What if you don't have anybody on staff who is proficient in code?
Don't worry — that's what volunteers are for! In the CLA presentation, the librarians said they reached out to local tech companies, colleges, and high schools.
If you can't find a volunteer, you can still host a coding club. Whatever you plan doesn't necessarily need to be a class; you can invite people to code and help each other on various projects or tutorials. Websites such as Prenda make it even easier for libraries to run engaging coding clubs through software, training, and coaching.
If you're a children's librarian or a parent, you probably know how huge the movies Frozen I and II are. Hour of Code created this brilliant tutorial where you can code with Anna and Elsa (characters from the movies).