March 12, 2025
On April 1, 2025, PreparationTech will host a group of high school students who will explore the theme of 'The Library of the Future' by visiting the Amsterdam Public Library, the largest municipal library in Europe. Students will discover how technology has expanded libraries beyond book repositories to massive digital data collections, multimedia hubs, AI engines, and maker spaces. They'll also learn about tech-related careers in libraries.
One of the highlight's of the day will be a talk and question and answer session with Arthur Japin, author of the powerful novel 'The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi' ('De Zwarte met het Witte Hart'), which tells the story of of two Ashanti princes taken from today's Ghana to the court of the Dutch king Willem I in 1837. The Ashanti king asked the Dutch to educate the boys but the Dutch effectively kidnapped them and used them as pawns for trade concessions. Arthur will talk about the power of storytelling and his experience as an author navigating the constantly-changing technology landscape.
The day will include a talk about the Amsterdam Public Library's most ambitious project, OBA Next, which is set to transform the Library into a digital powerhouse through digital education, virtual learning and maker education. Students will also participate in hands-on workshops focused on VR and learning, new AI search features, and a digital collection treasure hunt which will test students' ability to find both physical and digital items in the Library's collection.
PreparationTech educates students from groups under-represented in the technology industry (girls, students of colour and students from low-income families) about technology-related study, training and career opportunities. We connect them with role models and give them hands-on experiences with tech and brainstorming about tech-related challenges.
Stayed tune for more information.
A big thank you to our partners the Amsterdam Public Library (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam) and TUMO Amsterdam, a creative learning center launching later this year that will offer young people aged 12-18 the opportunity to explore and develop skills in fields like technology, design, and media. The center provides a hands-on, self-paced learning environment that encourages students to discover their passions and build real-world projects.