STEM Learning with a Library Robotics Team

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

In 2014, Chesterfield County Public Library (CCPL) began an innovative approach to STEM learning – the creation and mentoring of a robotics team. The LibraryBots team is free and open to all Chesterfield County middle and high, public, private and homeschooled students who have an interest in robotics and STEM practices. Library staff members mentor them by recruiting volunteer coaches, participating in strategy sessions, and assisting with documentation, fundraising and presentation skills. Learning alongside the students, CCPL staff is becoming science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM-savvy as well. Employees work alongside the robotics team members and coaches in the library’s own “Makerspace,” and attend competitions to coach and support the participants. The Library’s Friends non-profit group also contributes by providing funding for competitions, equipment and branded t-shirts. In exchange, the robotics team members do some of the heavy lifting at Friend’s booksales. Team members and staff learn new skills together, increasing staffs’ knowledge of applied technologies and programming that can then be passed along to other library customers, in support of their own learning needs.