2018 STEM Survey Highlights

Public Library Respondents

• 297 responding public library locations in March 2018 (306 in 2017).

Notable Changes from 2017 Survey

• STEM programs for middle and high school age youth grew 7% and 16% respectively.
• STEM equipment available for the public has grown.  For example, 117 have robotics equipment (87 in 2017); 74 libraries report having physics equipment (50 in 2017); 51 libraries report having 3D printers (36 in 2017); 61 report having digital production equipment (42 in 2017); 105 report having tablets loaded with STEM apps (80 in 2017)
• Public STEM spaces (e.g. maker spaces, digital production labs, exhibit spaces, etc.) grew 53%. 

STEM Programs

• 94% of public libraries offer STEM programs and/or services for youth or adults.
• Of these, 54% are for youth; 40% are for both youth and adults.
• Program target audience age ranges are:
• 73% or 185 libraries offer programs for pre-K children;
• 94% or 238 libraries offer programs for elementary school youth;
• 66% or 167 libraries offer programs for middle school youth;
• 39% or 99 libraries offer programs for high school youth.

Maker Spaces

• 39% of STEM program libraries (110) have public STEM spaces (e.g. maker spaces, digital production/ creation labs, STEM exhibit spaces, etc.
• 18% (45 libraries) have maker spaces – a 32% increase from 2017;
• 5% (13 libraries) have digital production/creation labs – a 63% increase from 2017;
• 1% (6 libraries) have gaming design labs – a 32% increase from 2017.
• 33% of libraries offering public STEM spaces provide dedicated space – a 62% increase from 2017.

School-Library Collaborations

• 51% of STEM program libraries (135) base all or some STEM programs on PA Academic Standards.
• 29% of STEM program libraries (77) work with school districts to develop STEM programs.

STEM Programming Barriers

• Similar to 2017, the chief barriers to providing STEM programming are:
• 66% lack of funds;
• 62% lack of staff;
• 43% lack of STEM equipment, tools, or toys.

Library Staff Training

• 71% believe staff need more STEM programming training – a 12% less than in 2017.
• The top training topic area needs are:
• 88% need technology training (e.g. robotics, devices, etc.);
• 83% need mathematics training (e.g. coding, computational thinking, etc.); and
• 76% need engineering training (e.g. construction, 3D printers, etc.).