Libraries, Museums and STEM Education

Forging Intergalactic Alliances:

Creating Library/Community Collaborations

With a Focus on STEM Education

Why Form Partnerships

Helps people access needed services and resources

Enhance information sharing, referral and collaboration

Provide information so the public can make informed decisions

Helps bring people into the library

Basic Steps for Creating Partnerships

Determine your needs

Determine community needs

Identify and approach community partners

Set goals, plan activities

Seek feedback, measure your success

Step One: Library Needs

Do you need activities for teens/children/seniors?

Increasing service to a particular academic discipline?

Once you identify your needs you can brainstorm groups to collaborate with

Determine Community Needs

Watch for trends in your community: teen pregnancy, certain academic areas not as successful, sudden popularity of a craft or hobby, unemployment...

Use trendwatching websites, census data, Pew Research results, ...

Find Partners

Which partners can help you meet your needs?

Whose needs can you meet?

Seek feedback

Once you identify your target audience you can figure out who to collaborate with

Set Goals and Plan Activities

Make sure to collaborate and get feedback from your partners

Creating networks leads to action

Make sure to get community buy-in through press releases, radio ads, exhibits, education--get the word out

Seek Feedback and Measure Success

Collect data throughout the process

Ask participants, partners, even your library team

Evaluate all activities and events and measure them against your goals

Adjust your programs and outreach if needed

Examples of Successful Library Partnerships

Career Based Education Program

Food Pantry Collaboration

Art Exhibits and Art Council Shows

Health Screenings

Local Historical Societies

Museum/Library Partnerships

Summer Reading Program crafts and activities

Lego programs

STEM Science Programs

Guest Lectures and Presentations

Other ExamplesReading and Literacy classes held at libraries (ABLE)

Resume and job workshops held by Job and Family Services

Homework tutoring and peer tutoring by National Honor Society

Economic Development information partnerships between college libraries and Business and Industry groups

Technology mentoring programs

Train the trainer programs between academic, public, and school libraries

Regional library networking groups

Shared catalogs between area libraries of all levels

More ExamplesFood and Reads with Friends: a Meals on Wheels and reading service for homebound

Rotating collections: seniors, jails, halfway houses, crisis centers...

Community Information Databases (like grant-writing,

economic assistance, job information, GED information, food banks...

Oral History Projects

Community space and meeting rooms for a wide variety of groups and organizations (scouts, 4-H, birding groups, card clubs, mommy groups, honors organizations, business organizations...

Community Fairs and Expos

Concrete Simple IdeasCreate bookmarks and brochures

Storytimes and special programs on topics of community concern

Classes/computer training on a community issue

Add resources on the library website to address community needs

Educate library employees and community workers on resources available at the library on important issues

Exhibit at local community fairs and expos

Join Community groups (Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association...

Develop special or new collections

STEM Resources• Find local groups already providing STEM

education:

• Boy/Girl Scouts

• Local Colleges and Universities—check out their STEM departments for contacts

• Find out what the schools are already doing and host their teams/groups

• Agree to train/mentor a school group or club

• Local museums, science centers, hobby clubs, and enthusiasts all can provide education

Popular Stem Activities• Egg Drop

• Toothpicks/spaghetti/popsicle stick bridges and structures

• Cardboard boats

• Paper race cars (air/ rubber band/gravity powered)

• Balloon rockets and cars

• Model rockets

Websites for STEM Ideas• SAE A World in Motion Curriculum:

http://www.awim.org/curriculum/

• PBS STEM Education: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/stem/

• First Robotics Challenge: http://www.usfirst.org/

• Technology Student Association: http://www.tsaweb.org/

• Odyssey of the Mind: http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/

• NASA (For Educators and Students): http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html

ResourcesLibrary of Congress website: http://www.loc.gov/index.html

OPLIN Community Tool Box: http://www.oplin.org/community-toolbox

Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/default.aspx

How Librarians and Libraries Help: A Guide to Identifying User-Centered Outcomes by Durrance, Fisher and Bouch Hinton, 2004

Realizing the Potential of Cultural Services by F. Coalter, 2001

The Library’s Contribution to Your Community: A Resource Manual for Libraries, Southern Ontario Library Services, 2007

Questions?

Maria Vega: [email protected]

(937) 726-7124