[Libs-Or] News Release: Cornelius Library Receives Federal Grant for Culturally Responsive STEM Learning Lab

[Karen Hill]

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2023

Cornelius Library Receives Federal Grant for Culturally Responsive STEM Learning Lab

Cornelius, OR -The Cornelius Public Library has been awarded a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.

The Cornelius Public Library has received a $36,365 federal LSTA grant to be used for creating a Culturally Responsive STEM Learning Lab within its new Drake Learning Center. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and is a philosophy to teach critical thinking skills through interesting real-world experiences and exercises.

"This grant helps us create synergies between the library and our partners to meet the needs of youth in the community to strengthen math and science skills, better preparing them for future academic success." Says Library Director, Karen Hill. "The library currently offers programs that engage youth in STEM thinking, including LEGOpalooza and Teen Imaginarium. The library will use the lab to offer free and fun programs, but it will also be available for partners to use for their STEM programs."

Community demographics and student performance in math and science reveal an extreme need for bilingual and bicultural STEM resources for Cornelius' youth. The federal funds will be used to design the exercises to be culturally relevant and target children PreK-12. The Cornelius Library Foundation has pledged an additional $6,000 and the Friends of the Library will fund supplies and help recruit volunteers to work in the STEM lab.

"It's a very exciting project that we hope will be a model for other STEM programs and makerspaces. We've designed our library and its programs to operate on a tight budget and with particular emphasis on the Latino community," says Hill.

The Cornelius Library has been recognized nationally as an innovative community resource in its physical design, collocated with affordable housing, and in its programming that serves a historically marginalized community.

Each year, the State Library of Oregon leverages state funding to receive a two-to-one match of federal funds under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants to States program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The State Library uses this funding to support libraries throughout the state, including grant opportunities for academic, public, school, and special libraries, as well as for federally recognized tribes in Oregon. For more information about the LSTA grants program, please visit the State Library website at www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>.

The Cornelius Library is a member of Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS).

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Karen Hill
Director
Cornelius Public Library<https://www.ci.cornelius.or.us/library>

503-992-5381 (Direct)| 503-357-4093 (Main)
1370 N Adair St., Cornelius, OR 97113
Follow us:  Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/CorneliusLibrary> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/corneliuslibrary/>
City of Cornelius | Member of WCCLS<https://www.wccls.org/>

Workweek: Monday-Friday

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