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Library, OH WOW! museum join to teach kids
YOUNGSTOWN
The public library and the children’s museum here have formed a science and technology education partnership using a grant from an organization whose purpose is to support innovative programs in libraries and museums.
The one-year, $20,765 grant announced this week supports hands-on coordinated learning spaces at the main public library and OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology.
The local grant, known as “Youngstown Ohio Learning Opportunities” or YOLO), promotes lab spaces for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, with activities and technology at main library and with exhibits in the downtown children’s museum.
The “Sparks! Ignition Grants” come from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the main source of federal support for the country’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums.
Participants will earn stackable badges on various topics at various levels of difficulty as they move between main library, 305 Wick Ave., and the OH WOW! museum at 11 W. Federal St.
“What we’re hoping to accomplish is to prove that both the partnership can be strengthened and students’ learning can be strengthened
through planned and coordinated spaces,” said Heidi Daniel, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
“The purpose of this project is to evaluate if learning is increased when two organizations offer opportunities for tiered learning experiences,” said Josephine Nolfi, director of programming and youth services for the library system.
The assessment of the program, to be paid for through grant funds, will be performed for $1,200 by an independent evaluator, Thomas P. Miller & Associates of Indianapolis.
The evaluating organization will observe the exhibits in use here and survey parents of children in the program concerning their children’s learning experiences.
“This grant aims to bring children into both the library and OH WOW! for a learning process than builds on itself as kids experience topics from multiple perspectives at two locations,” Nolfi added.
For example, Nolfi said, a child can visit the museum and play a piece of music on a PVC pipe organ, then go to main library and compose and edit an original piece of music using software and earn a music badge.
“We’re very excited about this partnership because it’s going to enable us to measure the impact and build on those results for future efforts,” said Suzanne Barbati, president and executive director of the children’s museum.
Access to all items featured in the partnership at the main library and the museum is free, with museum admission fees waived for program participants. “All barriers to participation are gone,” Barbati said.
“I think it’s a good learning experience,” said Stacey Sobinovsky of Girard, whose daughter, Bailey Mellon, 3, has experienced the main library and museum exhibits. “It gives them hands-on experience,” she said of children visiting the exhibits.
“Libraries are no longer just books. We are so many different things,” said Janet Loew, library communications and public-relations director.
At the library, children can learn how a 3-D printer works, learn aerodynamics with a small, remote-controlled toy drone contained in a mesh tent, make movies with animation, see a simulated tornado in a water-filled bottle and watch the heavier car win on a dual-lane downhill racing ramp.
Participants also can tour main library using an iPad and an app to scan information signs to see video at seven tour stations.
IMLS’ mission is “to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning and cultural and civic engagement.”