STEM LIBRARIES Supporting STEM Studies in Secondary Public School Libraries

This report explains how and why teacher librarians should effectively support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies in secondary public school libraries. I currently work as a teacher librarian in a STEM middle school; therefore, I created a STEM-focused library that supports my school’s vision and mission. Some of my strategies included increasing science resources, providing STEM orientations, and collaborating with teachers & administrators about STEM activities. It is important to prepare students in these four areas of study because there are a plethora of college major options and career opportunities in these fields. Moreover, the U.S. has not been adequately preparing students to enter and remain in STEM university programs, which would thus prepare them for high-need and high-paying jobs in the sciences. Accordingly, teacher librarians can encourage and support students ’ interest in STEM in a variety of effective ways in their school libraries, but it does necessitate funding, knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment