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St. Helens Public Library Receives Grant from NW STEM Hub
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2021
St. Helens, Ore. – The St. Helens Public Library recently received a $5,000 sustaining grant from NW STEM Hub to expand hands-on educational programs at the Library. This award follows the Library’s success with a previously-awarded $20,000 grant from the organization.
The Library will use the funds to expand its Library of Things collection; create opportunities for self-led science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-based play in the children’s room; expand programming for children; and test equipment to be used in both Library programming and an upcoming makerspace.
The grant will support the creation of a makerspace for use by the public and as a part of Library programming. The makerspace will be a collaborative work space where the community can gather to create, explore, and practice creative skills using shared technology. Equipment available for use within the makerspace will include items such as a laser cutter, a Cricut cutter, a sewing machine, audio and visual recording and editing equipment, and more. The makerspace does not currently have a set date to open.
The Library of Things launched in November 2019 and includes Wi-Fi mobile hotspots, Snap Circuits, Makey Makey kits, a Dash coding robot, 3D pens, littleBits kits, a bento making kit, a toddler science center kit, Kill-A-Watt electricity usage monitors, and more. Using the $5,000 grant, the Library will add a LEGO movie maker kit and STEM activity kits appropriate for multiple age groups. Items from the Library of Things are available for a 21-day checkout with an adult library card.
The expansion of the Library of Things and creation of a makerspace advances the St. Helens Public Library’s goal of developing robust, scalable, equitable, and accessible applied STEM programming that aligns with school curriculum in an out-of-school setting.
Under the grant, the Library’s children’s room will have new activities available for unstructured use when the Library building re-opens to the public. The new marble run kit, Magna-Tiles, Magformers, Lakeshore Learning STEM kits, K’Nex kit, and several educational toys will be available for use within the Library.
The St. Helens Public Library believes that the new makerspace program, growing Library of Things collection, and children’s activities fits with the Library’s mission to provide the community with optimal access to tools that promote and encourage lifelong learning, self-development, and life enhancement.
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For further information regarding the NW STEM Hub grant, please contact Library Director Margaret Jeffries at margaretj@ci.st-helens.or.us and Youth Librarian Gretchen Kolderup at gretchenk@ci.st-helens.or.us.
