This document discusses how libraries can serve as hubs for STEM and STEAM initiatives by incorporating tinkering, collaboration, project-based learning, and partnerships with schools and other community organizations. It provides examples of libraries that have implemented maker spaces, coding activities, events featuring local experts, and project-based learning to engage students in STEM topics. The document advocates that libraries promote STEM and STEAM opportunities through branding activities, online resources, and networking to highlight their role in supporting student inquiry and creativity.

1. Libraries as STEM to STEAM Hubs
Melissa Techman, MLS
mtechman@k12albemarle.org
Albemarle County Public Schools, Charlottesville, VA

2. Librarians can expand their
professional roles.

3. Tinkering, tool using

4. Collaboration opportunities - within schools,
across locations and platforms,
between public and school libraries…

5. Apex Elem, NC

6. STEM + Arts and Humanities =
opportunities to support inquiry,
creativity, PBL, and literacy.

7. Tackle misconceptions
• Rain comes from holes in clouds.
• Rain comes from clouds sweating.
• Rain occurs because we need it.
• Rain falls from funnels in the clouds.
• Rain occurs when clouds get scrambled and
melt.
• Rain occurs when clouds are shaken.
Distributed at the 2009 ASEE K-12 Workshop on Engineering Education,
Austin Texas

8. Advocacy

9. Bringing in experts can show learners the cross-
disciplinary nature of many STEM fields. A VCU
Sculpture grad student works on modeling with medical
students.

10. Museum activities and outreach:
Partners and inspiration
Image courtesy Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Berkeley

11. Events and initiatives

12. Posted in ACPS libraries.

13. Funding and support
Higher ed, including engineering
education outreach
Corporations, local and national
Business groups and incubators
PTO
Grants

14. Innovation guests, community experts
Cardboard Safari on Etsy.com

15. Highlight inventions

16. Multi-age, X-curricular opportunities

17. Including the arts supports innovation.

18. You don’t have to be an expert!
Chad Sansing,
Nerdcamp and Tech
Girls meetup
at Crozet PL,
Crozet, VA

19. Hackerspaces, Maker Faires

21. Writing is making
Book Review kit for Mozilla Webmaker project with NWP.

23. Coding as Making

24. Webmaker activities

25. STEAM-focused projects and advocacy
Amy Koester (in SLJ): “…the parents stay…”

26. Biomechanical modeling and “Boy,
Were We Wrong!”
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130702-sabertooth-cat-bite-
prehistoric-science-animals/

27. Connect a holiday or author’s
birthday to a STEM topic

29. STEM is everywhere.
Search Diigo and Delicious, look at blogs,
see publisher’s resources.
Start anywhere.

30. hashtags
#scichat #STEM #makered
#literacies #webmaker
#stemfri #devdev
#tlchat #mozfest

31. Contextualizing opportunities.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/02/24/147367644/six-legged-giant-finds-secret-hideaway-hides-for-
80-years

32. Duxbury Free Library
http://librarymakerspace.blogspot.com/2013/08/summer-makerspace-mondays-recap.html

33. Pinterest as a search option.
http://www.pinterest.com/cari_young/science-centers/
http://www.pinterest.com/smelvin/art-class-steam/

34. Brand your activities.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Chattanooga Public Library

36. Invent to Learn
http://www.inventtolearn.com/resources/#all

37. Bradley Jones
and crew,
Skokie PL
Caldecott Green
Screen Activity

38. Interactive station – ask a question,
answer it

39. http://librarymakers.blogspot.com/

40. http://thiskindylife.blogspot.ca/

41. Contact me!
Melissa Techman, MLS
mtechman@k12albemarle.org
Albemarle County Public Schools,
Charlottesville, VA
Pinterest, Symbaloo, Twitter:
@mtechman
My heart networks: Librarians, art
teachers, and the National Writing
Project.