Presented at GaCOMO15 by Leigh Skowronski, Radha Ashok, Patrice Prevos. "Meet Me at the library for STEAM" demonstrates how libraries could stage a STEAM event inexpensively, promote library services and build lasting relationships with the schools in their cluster.

1. Building a relationship with local schools and promoting
library resources.
Meet Me at the Library for S.T.E.A.M.
Gwinnett County Public Library, Centerville Branch

2. Located Northeast of Atlanta
15 Branches plus Gwinnett Technical College
Check Outs: 5,464,503
Customer Visits: 2,646,468
Electronic Visits: 4,718,385
Program Attendance: 159,220
Total Active Cards: 321,681
Who we are
Presenters:
Leigh Skowronski, Branch Manager
Radha Ashok: Assistant Branch Manager
Patrice Prevost: Public Services Librarian

3. Preview
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Focus Moment

4. Objectives
● Increase awareness of library services &
resources in the community
● Make the library a “place to be”
● Showcase the value of a library card
● Increase & improve collaborative relationships
with school personnel
● Support the educational needs of students

5. Start With an Idea
○ “Meet Me at the Library” was initially
designed by another branch in our system as a
collaborative program involving teachers and
students from a particular school visiting the
library on a particular night.

6. Tweak the Idea to Meet Your Objectives
○ We wanted to showcase new technology that
the library recently obtained through a state
grant.
○ “Meet Me at the Library” became “Meet Me
at the Library for S.T.E.M.”

7. Reshape and Plan
Identify Resources
Staffing levels
Utilize volunteers and teachers/faculty
Space available
Equipment - tech and non-tech equipment
Buy-in from other departments in the system
Interdepartmental cooperation
Make contact with schools

8. How Did We Sell This?
● Free
● Fun
● Family oriented
● Hands-on experiences that support
education

9. Collaborating with the Schools
○ Be flexible and listen. Allow for input and suggestions
from school personnel.
■ S.T.E.M. becomes S.T.E.A.M.
■ Promotional video
■ Tumblebooks
■ Bilingual resources
○ Secure program date and commitment from school.

10. Marketing
What we provided:
Video - STEAM @ Centerville Promo
Flyer - Flyer
What the schools provided:
Parent eMail blast
Morning announcement
Flyers in Friday folders
Calling Post calls
Posted video and flyer on school website

11. How the School Contributed
Teacher volunteers
Incentives for attendance
Student artwork
School system news crew

12. Preparing for the event
Determine stations
Assign staff & coach staff for station responsibilities
Provide opportunity for staff to be creative and to “play”
Create and print handouts & bookmarks
Create displays - personalize the event for the school
Obtain prizes for raffle drawings
Determine extra supplies needed
Tables
Floor coverings
Balloons (important!)

13. Day of the Event
Noise level signage
Move furniture
Support energy levels - eat and hydrate!
Take photos

14. The day
of the
event...

15. Map and Passport

16. Library Card sign up

17. Science: Sink & Float

18. Technology: MakerBot 3D Printer

19. Technology: Robotic Cubelets

20. Engineering: Marshmallow Structures

21. Art & Math: Weaving

22. Art: Student Artwork

23. Library Online Resources for Kids

24. Volunteers from the Schools

25. Feedback

26. Feedback
I never imagined they would come out like this! This has
exceeded my expectations and to see all of my students with
smiles on their faces as they walk around -- I am very
impressed!" ~ Principal Kimberly Dyer
"STEAM night is so much fun! Are you going to do it again tomorrow?!" (student)
"This is fun! I didn't think the library was so much fun!" (student)
"This is wonderful! Thank you so much for having this for our students”.
(teacher)

27. Measure of success
Our Goal: build a relationship with local schools and make the Centerville
Branch “a place to be” for kids, teens and adults.
Outcome:
Attendance - We hoped that 10% of the student population and their families
would come to the event. We had close to 30% show up.
After the programs: Schools contacted us to participate in their book fair,
kinder camp, kindergarten roundup, Reflections contest (for mentoring and
judging), and curriculum nights.

28. We Learned...
The schools want a continuation of commitment. They will want to know
what’s next? (No interest in “one and done”).
A concerted energetic outreach effort will demonstrate the present day value
of libraries.

29. Resources for STEAM ideas
Boone County Public Library
http://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/programs/summerreading/Documents/2014_conference_materials/40%20STEAM%20Program
s%20in%2040%20Minutes/2014%2040%20STEAM%20Programs%20in%2040%20Minutes%20KDLA%20SCR.pdf
Libraries and STEM National Conference
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/stemlibraryconference/events/
Association for Library Service to Children http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/06/taking-the-leap-from-
stem-to-steam/
Young Adult Library Services Association http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/STEM_Resources
ALA STEM Programming Tool Kit
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/STEMtoolkit_Final_2013.docx.
The Show Me Librarian http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com/
Kids Activity Blog http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/
Brain Pop http://educators.brainpop.com/lesson-plan/sink-or-float-background-information-for-teachers-and-parents/
Teach Mamma http://teachmama.com/rainbow-loom-5-reasons-kids-need-parents-love/

30. Questions ?

31. Contacts
Leigh Skowronski
lskowronski@gwinnettpl.org
770-985-4180
Radha Ashok
rashok@gwinnettpl.or
g
770-978-4235
Patrice Prevost
pprevost@gwinnettpl.org
770-978-5154 (ask to be connected
with the Centerville Branch)