Social Library, STEM Edition
This edition of the Social Library focuses on libraries who are sharing STEM-related programming on Facebook. With our recent webinar with the Kitsap Regional Library, Make, Do, Share: Build a STEM Learning Community and last month's poll on STEM in libraries, we've been noticing the many ways libraries are supporting STEM/STEAM learning in their communities. (That's science, technology, engineering and math, and the "a" adds art.) From pre-schoolers to adults, the members of the communities highlighted below are benefiting from the wealth of programming and resources their libraries provide. If you'd like to see your library featured in the Social Library series, please let us know via [email protected], or find us on Facebook.
- Show Low Public Library in Arizona connected with the community as part of the 3rd annual Innovation Nation STEM Festival hosted by Arizona SciTech. The library showcased their STEM initiatives, including Creative Club, which meets monthly to help develop children-s interest in STEAM-related activities while stimulating their imagination and originality. (Creative Club is supported through a 2015 Curiosity Creates grant from Disney and the Association for Library Service to Children.)
- We featured Frisco Public Library (TX) in a Social Library edition last year, but are excited to see all the fresh posts for #friscomakes highlighting their STEM Backpacks and Maker Kits. The Library offers eight different kits, in different difficulty levels, that allow patrons "to explore, innovate and create in your at your own pace—in your own space."
- The Mahopac Public Library in New York hosts Exploration Station each Monday afternoon for 3- to 5-year-olds. Children and caregivers explore several interactive, hands-on Exploration Stations centered around STEAM concepts. This week they read Monica Wellington's Mr. Cookie Baker and practiced counting and measuring.
Dothan Houston County Library System in Alabama circulates Subjects in a Box, which include a collection of multi-sensory items and resources on topics like insects, fractions, colors and shapes, or the newest boxes cover dinosaurs, microscopes, art and cars. Made possible through sponsorship by the Friends of the Library, the boxes can be checked out at all three branches of the library.
- And Queens Library in New York is inviting teens to come to the library for a new hands-on STEM program. Each week for ten weeks, teens will complete new projects related to energy, including building solar cars, designing wind turbine blades and building 3-D models of sustainable communities.
Thanks to all of this week's featured libraries for such outstanding service to your communities!