The Ralph Ellison Library, part of the Metropolitan Library System, has been selected through a competitive application process to be part of NASA@ My Library, an education initiative created to increase and enhance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) learning opportunities for library customers throughout the nation.

“The Ralph Ellison Library is one of just 60 libraries nationwide to be part of this initiative, and we’re thrilled to have been selected,” said Kristin Williamson, children’s services manager, who applied for the grant. “We look forward to introducing STEAM concepts to our younger customers and to exploring the universe together with people of all ages during our programs in 2021 and 2022.”

As a NASA@ My Library Partner, the library will hold programs that explore NASA science and technology, specifically around NASA’s newest next-generation telescope launch (fall 2021), the first telescope images (spring 2022) and as part of the Summer Reading program (summer 2022).

“We will be partnering with the Science Museum Oklahoma to provide STEAM programs in the coming months and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to provide summer meals along with those programs,” Williamson said.

Approximately 150 libraries applied to be part of the program.

As part of this initiative, the Ralph Ellison Library will receive training and resources to implement NASA events and programming, access to a university Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support patron engagement and $1,600 for programming expenses.

These resources, along with support by the NASA@ My Library team, will enable the library to conduct excellent NASA STEAM programming and activities. NASA@ My Library will create compelling learning experiences for the Metropolitan Library System community and share the story, science and adventure of NASA’s scientific explorations of planet Earth, our solar system and the universe beyond.

“The best part is that, although Ralph Ellison Library was the recipient of this grant, all of our Metro Library locations will benefit from the resources and some will host the programs using their own programming funds,” Williamson said.

NASA@ My Library is offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the ALA Public Programs Office, Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and Education Development Center (EDC). This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under cooperative agreement No. NNX16AE30A. This work was also assisted and supported by the Space Science Institute, which was the recipient of the cooperative agreement. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA or the Space Science Institute.