Several Washougal school libraries recently increased their collections of STEM-related books (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) thanks to a grant from the Washington State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. District library assistants applied for the grants, entitled “The future STEMS from reading.”
Libraries at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary, Hathaway Elementary, Canyon Creek Middle School and Washougal High School each received 50 age-appropriate, award-winning STEM hardback, non-fiction books and three professional collection titles. In addition, Jemtegaard Middle School received a grant for $1,000 worth of unlimited Science eBooks.
Special thanks to grant writers and Library Assistants Heather Christofferson (Hathaway), Debbie Leifsen (Jemtegaard), and Holly Vonderohe (Canyon Creek), along with Library Media Specialist Hillary Marshall (WHS), and Technology and English Language Arts Coach Tiffany McCormick (Canyon Creek), whose efforts brought these grants to Washougal.
“Our Washougal School District libraries are helping to integrate Common Core and technology into our collections,” said Hillary Marshall. “We are thrilled to bring these books to our schools for students.”
The grants aims to help school libraries update their STEM collections because materials in these subject areas date more quickly and need to be renewed more frequently. According to the Washington State Library web site, recent budget cuts due to the recession resulted in many school districts tightening their budgets. School library resources were hard hit and many have yet to recover. An advisory committee of teacher-librarians selected the books and 230 awards were given across the state.
The materials are already on Washougal shelves and being read and checked out by students.
