Research shows that science and technology skills are critical for success in the workforce. As an education space, libraries have embraced their role in supporting STEM education so that children are exposed to science and technology and are encouraged to learn and explore. The STEM Mini-Stations address the challenge by providing hands-on learning activities for children in an informal setting using limited resources and a lot of creativity. The learning can happen at any time and is not dependent on a scheduled event. The stations are free-standing and children can explore them at their own pace, learning about topics like electricity, magnetism, air pressure, and optics. The stations allow for children to experience science through sight and touch in a very real and interactive manner.

As the Damascus staff brainstormed about 2014 Summer Reading decorations, the idea to create hands-on science activities was hatched. Staff placed 22 different theme science based stations at the bookshelves’ end-caps, as space allowed, and at the Information and Circulation desks. Staff researched and designed stations based on space and availability of safe, affordable, sturdy supplies. Each station has a hands-on manipulative, an informational poster with a STEM topic, definition, activity instructions, interesting facts, and open-ended questions to encourage curiosity, and books, cds and dvds. To serve a wide age-range, some activities are easy while others are more complex.

Originated at one branch, the idea of the STEM Mini-Stations has quickly grown to become a system-wide model. Following the Damascus stations’ launch, a system-wide training was developed for all Children’s Services staff to learn about incorporating the stations into their own branches, complete with a toolkit and video resources. A thorough plan was put into place for all 21 branches to host 5-6 Mini-Stations by April 2015. This included developing templates to illustrate the stations, equipment supply lists, and best practices/lessons learned by the Damascus branch. At the Damascus branch, the mini-stations proved to be a meaningful and engaging hands-on science learning opportunity for children. It is anticipated that this will have the same outcome at the other branches throughout Montgomery County, MD.