New STEM Resources for Libraries

Erin M. Schadt /

New free sources of robust information and resources on STEM specifically for libraries have just been released by STAR_Net and by Kitsap Regional Library.

STAR_Net's STEM in Libraries

STAR_Net (an initiative by the Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning) has launched a new collection of resources to support library staff whether they are just beginning work in STEM or are experienced and who want to further develop their STEM efforts.

Many of the STEM in Libraries resources originated from the 2015 Public Libraries & STEM conference and include presentation and poster files, reports, evaluation instruments and more.

  • The resources are organized into the following sections:
  • Why STEM?
  • Collaboration
  • Diversity
  • What is STEM in the library?
  • Evaluation
  • The Future

Learn more about the conference in this STEM in Libraries announcement on the STAR_Net website.

Make Do Share Project from Kitsap Regional Library

Another rich set of resources comes from Kitsap Regional Library's Make Do Share project. The Washington State library received a three-year National Leadership grant from the Institute of Museum and Libraries in 2015 to design and implement a sustainable STEM programming model for public libraries. The Make Share Do project collects tools and resources to support staff in planning, facilitating and improving STEM programs for and with youth.  

Shannon Peterson and Seth Ciotti, of Kitsap Regional Library (WA), shared their work in STEM library programming including a preview of the project in a recent WebJunction webinar.

Now they have created a project website and released the downloadable guide Make Do Share: Sustainable STEM Programming for and with Youth in Public Libraries. The incredible 64-page guide includes a STEM Library Roadmap with core concepts and ongoing activities to help inform the creation of a new program or improve an existing initiative and the meat of the guide is the STEM Library Playbook, which encompasses program design and implementation suggestions that can be adapted to suit a variety of short and long-term program types.

They are also looking to partner with small and rural libraries around the country to help support the planning and implementation of STEM programming in their communities. Partner applications are due by November 15 and more information is available on the partner section of their site.