IMLS National Leadership Grant

Grant Program: National Leadership Grants
Category: Learning Spaces in Libraries
Award Amount: $493,770; Matching Amount: $623,523

Contact:
Maine State Library, Library Development Division
(207) 287-5620

Grant Title

Empowering Public Libraries to Become Science Resource Centers for Their Communities

Description | Project Team | Project Partners | Library Partners | Resources

The overarching goal for this initiative is that the nation's State Library Agencies (SLAs) have a field-tested, replicable science literacy method that they can use to enable their public libraries to become skilled STEM facilitators. The project seeks to empower public libraries to build their science literacy capacity so that they can connect their communities to engaging and meaningful informal science and technology experiences, equipment, books, media and the scientific community.

This initative will test and refine the decade-long experience in Maine of public libraries partnering with the Maine State Library and Cornerstones of Science. Key results of this initiative include:

1. The creation of the online STEM Resources Clearinghouse (how-to guides, databases of STEM programming, training for librarians, evaluation tools, and more)
2. Expanded SLA STEM capacity and advocacy
3. Expanded public library STEM capacity that enables them to successfully support ongoing STEM programming within daily operations
4. A Guide that SLA's can use to nurture STEM in public libraries

Between July 2015 and December 2017, the project team will work intensively with six pilot libraries in Maine and Massachusetts to develop, test and evaluation all project materials. One result is that these libraries will become dynamic community science centers that are vibrant and valued by community members.

• Maine State Library
• Cornerstones of Science
• Masschusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services
Vermont Department of Libraries
Aldrich Astronomical Society
American Science and Engineering
Bangor Public Library
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science
Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA)
Concord Consortium
Discovery Museum
Harvard University
Jackson Laboratory
Maine Space Grant Consortium
Southern Maine Astronomers
Space Science Institute
University of New England
WebJunction

• Portland Public Library (Portland, ME)
• Auburn Public Library (Auburn, ME)
• Jesup Memorial Library (Bar Harbor, ME)
• M.N. Spear Memorial Library (Shutesbury, MA)
• Nevins Memorial Library (Methuen, MA)
• Bellingham Public Library (Bellingham, MA)

• Stem Learning: A Lifelong, Life Wide View (John Falk ) and Rising to the Challenge (Susan Hildreth) (51 minutes)- a webinar presenting research on informal STEM learning and the Aspen Institute Report on libraries presented to the Cornerstones of Science Board on October 2, 2015.
• STEM Afterschool: It's Time to Activate! A Messaging Toolkit to Make the Case for STEM in Afterschool - from the Afterschool STEM Hub
• Full STEM Ahead: Afterschool Programs Step Up as Key Partners in STEM Education - report from the Afterschool Alliance

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services."