September 1st, 2005 - November 30th, 2011 | PROJECT
The Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) will develop "Science in the Stacks," an integrated, multi-sensory, self-paced informal learning environment within its forthcoming Children's Library Discovery Center. It will include 36 Discovery Exhibits developed by the Exploratorium, three Learning Carts for scripted activities by librarians, six Information Plazas, a Discovery Teens program, a web site and supporting educational activities. The theme will be multiple pathways to the world of information. QBPL will be collaborating locally with the New York Hall of Science and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Overall, QBPL receives some 16 million visits per year; the target audience for this project is children ages 3 to 12. In addition to its public impact, "Science in the Stacks" will have professional impact on both the science center and library fields, showing how it is possible to combine their different modes of STEM learning in complementary ways. Although library-museum colaaborations are not new, this one is the first attempt to combine their respective learning resources on a large scale. It offers the potential to serve as a new model for both fields, enabling visitor (patron) entry into self-directed STEM learning through books, media, programs or hands-on activities.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Team Members
Nick Buron, Principal Investigator, Queens Borough Public LibraryLorna Rudder-Kilkenny, Former Principal Investigator, Queens Borough Public Library
Thomas Rockwell, Co-Principal Investigator, Exploratorium
Marcia Rudy, Co-Principal Investigator, New York Hall of Science
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0515597
Funding Amount: 1735594
Tags
Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals | Pre-K Children (0-5)
Discipline: Engineering | General STEM | Literacy | Mathematics | Technology
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Library Exhibits | Library Programs | Museum and Science Center Exhibits | Public Programs