Engaging Partners and Communities in Virtual STEAM Fests

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In 2020, the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) shifted to virtual programming to continue?providing?learning and community?engagement?opportunities for Miami-Dade County?residents.?The library’s physical spaces were closed?for about?10 weeks?but reopened for?public?service. During the closure,?digital circulation increased,?new library card registrations rose, and?electronic resources were?added?to accommodate increased demand.?Staff found that even when children and families were able to return to the library spaces, many chose to stay connected virtually.?? The Virtual STEAM Fest program was modeled after a successful in-person, semiannual, system-wide event hosted by MDPLS since Spring 2018. STEAM Fest is a festival, which highlights?the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) fields,?and?is?presented by community partners?involved in STEAM education. The Virtual STEAM Fest format?provides?an opportunity for staff and community partners to reconnect with their audiences?on a?quarterly instead of semiannual?basis. The target audience was broadened to include all members of the family?who could view the virtual event together.?Library staff improved their skills using a virtual webinar platform, created STEAM pre-recorded videos as marketing tools to promote the event, and continued offering entertaining and informative content.??