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GROWING A STEAM PROGRAM
The beauty of STEAM programming is that it can help young people
make connections between disciplines and encourage creativity across
fi elds. Creating programs that touch on multiple STEAM areas can be a
great benefi t to your library and to your young adult (YA) patrons. If you
have previously created programs in one content area, this is your chance to
pull in additional resources—teachers, patrons, students, and community—
to expand your program into new areas. This chapter offers suggestions
for establishing a program, enhancing your current offerings, and grow-
ing your program. This effort can begin with stand-alone sessions focused
on specifi c STEAM topics that align most closely with efforts that may
already be underway and can grow as your capacity for new activities,
planning, and implementation allow.
The joy of providing STEM opportunities through the library program
lies in becoming a hub for an integrated approach to STEM, blending
science, math, and technology elements in activities and programs. In
schools, this allows students to explore without as large a funding com-
mitment of staff, lab space, and scheduling that could overload students
in full-blown coursework. Efforts in the library can be a proving ground
for curricular changes and can be a parallel to classroom activities that
engage students who may not select a particular course.
