Addressing Local Needs through LSTA Grants

Massachusetts libraries are leading the way with innovative programming that highlights Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Share what's happening in your library by uploading photos, quotes, videos, and more!

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The Stoughton Public Library received the LSTA Science is Everywhere grant in 2014 and the LSTA Full Steam Ahead grant in 2015.  With these grants, the library was able to provide exciting programs for school-age and preschool children based on STEM and STEAM topics.   School-aged children ages 7-11 attended monthly programs on a wide variety of topics including Physics, Engineering, Animal Life, Weather, Chemistry, Makey-Makeys and more.  These programs centered on a topic and always started with a K-W-L chart, where children were asked what they knew and wanted to know about the topic, then ended with what they learned.  After a particular topic was introduced, children would perform an experiment, challenge or activity based upon the lesson for the day.  They worked together in groups and had the opportunity to observe, test and modify their projects.  Parent attendance was not required with this age group, yet facilitators found that parents had a large impact on the participants’ prior knowledge and interest of these science topics.  

Preschool children and their parents attended the STEAM programs at the library, where a topic would be introduced and a brief discussion would generate what children knew or wanted to know about the specific topic that day.  A storytime followed based on the subject and the program would end with several activity stations where children could explore the subject further.  This grant included a program about bats where Stellaluna by Janell Cannon was read, a program on spiders where The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle was featured and more topics including magnetism, wind, fossils and more.  

These two grants were so popular with library patrons that we have continued them in our regular programming despite the grants expiring.  They provided the seed money for us to begin a new line of programming that has exceeded our expectations as far as attendance and interest.  There is often a waiting list!  The library is in its second year of independent STEM programming for ages 7-11 and the first year of independent STEAM programming for ages 3-6. The programs are provided monthly for each age group by the two Children’s Librarians on staff, Barbara Pally and Amy Dean.  We found that parent participation in the programs for preschool-aged children helped educate both parent and child on various science topics.  Our hope is that this interest will be fostered at home and continues to generate interest as children age and attend the STEM programs for school-aged children.

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Bulb Planting

In October, the community was invited to plant crocus bulbs outside near our book drop. Participants could also take an activity/coloring sheet depicting the major parts of a crocus. The crocuses began blooming in March.

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Space Camp

March was space-themed at the Fowler Branch of the Concord Free Public Library. For our Space Camp program, we talked about how astronauts prepare for living and work in space and had a series of learning stations set up where children could practice walking on a moving surface like astronauts exercising in space, how to conduct experiments with gloves, and how to prepare meals in space. We even got to sample an MRE (meals ready-to-eat) like soldiers and astronauts might eat.

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littleBits & Lego

littleBits, magnetic circuits,  were added to the monthy Lego program at the Fowler Branch of the Concord Free Public Library. Children can create whatever they like using the tools provided. Several created objects based on the littleBits Gizmos and Gadget kit while others designed original projects.

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Day 1 of diving into Underwater Robotics!  Pembroke Public Library paired with the South Shore Natural Science Center to bring our young engineers the tools they needed for a SeaPerch (an underwater, robotic explorer).  Measure, drill, assemble, decorate! *This activity was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the STEM “Science is Everywhere” grant.

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Day 2 ofUnderwater Robotics propelled us into STEM!  The South Shore Natural Science Center visited again so our team could finish their SeaPerch with soldering, electronic work, and more assembly.  It was worth braving the chilly weather to take the bot for a very successful test drive.

*This activity was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the STEM “Science is Everywhere” grant.

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The Magic of Magnets

Properties of magnetic materials were demonstrated and a series of experiments were conducted to test how to use magnets in various situations. The audience then had the opportunity to come up and test the magnets themselves. A kit of magnets and suggested experiments is now being circulated at the Fowler Branch of the Concord Free Public Library. One mother told us that her 4 and 5 year old children spent the next week testing everything in the house for magnetic properties.

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Dinosaur Dig

After receiving LSTA funds to increase preschool STEAM programming, the Fowler Branch of the Concord Free Public Library hosted a program on dinosaurs. After discussing how bones turn into fossils, participants practiced their excavation skills by extracting chocolate chips from cookies with a toothpick, searched through a fake excavation site for bones, and had the chance to make their own fossils with clay, molds, and imagination.

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Springfield Technical Community College created a Pop-Up Library cart using LSTA funds that was put on display during the Library Legislative Day at the State House. State Representative Carlos Gonzalez stopped by to say hello and learn more about what the traveling library cart can do!

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Forbes Library has been working on improving access to library services and programs through a two-year LSTA grant called "Serving Patrons with Disabilities". Among its many facts this grant has allowed the library to offer assisted listening technology in its meeting rooms and screen reading software on its public computers. During this second year, Forbes Library is offering a range of programs of special interest to patrons with disabilities including a series of tech classes for blind and low vision patrons. 

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At the Richard Sugden Library in Spencer, Ma 3-5 year olds are getting to be young scientists with the LSTA "Full STEAM Ahead" grant. As part of the grant there are monthly hands on programs for the preschoolers on various STEAM topics- most of these photos are from our "It's Electric" program. The grandmother of one of the participants remarked " She had a lot of fun but I wasn't sure she understood it all, then that evening she explained about circuits and current to her parents.  The Mom in turn related how the next day when she was bringing her daughter to daycare and she asked about the frost on the window, she gave her a more in depth explanation because she realized her daughter could understand more than she thought."

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The Attleboro Public Library received a 2 year LSTA grant in 2015 that has allowed us to offering additional and more diverse programming to tweens and teens in our local community.  One of the main focuses of our project is connecting youth to their community and all of the resources available to them!  We developed a video project that we are currently implementing at 3 middle schools and 1 local high school.  A group at each school is meeting with a facilitator from the library who is providing education on interviewing and video creation and then assisting the students in creating a video that connects the youth to their community.  The youth participating are developing their verbal and written communication skills as well as their technology use skills, which benefits the students as well as their school or a local agency.  One of these groups has finished their video project, when the students were surveyed during the last session they reported feeling a greater connection to both their school and local communities and were sad that the group had come to an end.  Many asked what other programs the library offered that they could participate in to keep the connection with the library going.  The attached picture shows one of the groups of middle school students working to edit their final product.  LSTA funds are vitally important, without these funds our library would not be able to offer sessions such as these due to lack of funds to purchase the equipment needed, and limited staff time. 

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Soule Homestead's chickens visited the Middleborough Public Library as part of a series of programs funded through an LSTA Full STEAM Ahead grant.  The partnership will continue throughout the year with programs both at the library and at the farmstead.  Kids and families will be learning about animals and plants with lots of hands-on experiences like this one.

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The Morrill Memorial Libray hosted ArtStart!.  This program incorporated math, engineering and design through the use of different art modalities.  We presented 2 well attended programs!  The children counted, worked with shapes, built 3-D structures and enjoyed free form art.  

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As part of the Preschool STEAM Grant, the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood hosted "Beyond Blocks".  Children were challenged to create and design with different materials.  It was amazing how much weight the structures and bridges could hold!  

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Chicopee Public Library is focusing on technology to foster creativity and innovation. The library used some of their LSTA money to buy a 3D printer, the Ultimaker 2. They have been hosting workshops for middle and high school students to learn free online 3D modeling software, Tinkercad, and printing their creations. (Video Courtesy of MassLive.com)

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LEGO Science at Winchester Public Library (MA)

Last year, we were awarded an LSTA grant to purchase LEGO Education kits and laptops. With this grant, we were able to afford enough equipment so that we could teach hands-on science and programming workshops. The students work in small groups which afford the opportunity for a lot of one-to-one teaching. The programs have been extremely popular and the materials will last us for many years.