Phillips 66 granted $20,000 to the Billings Public Library Foundation to be used for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) programming at the Billings Public Library.  The funds will pay for the Library’s “Community Crates” project developed to engage youth in pre-K through high school, their teachers and mentors in a variety of STEAM areas. The focus will be:

1.    Create six mobile crates of STEAM equipment and activities. Take them to classrooms, youth camps, events and agencies for librarian-led STEAM workshops. 

2.    Enhance relationships with community partners by developing progressive curricula tailored to the crate equipment, providing continuing education opportunities for teachers, and allowing teachers, home schoolers and youth group leaders to check out the crates for their own classroom and club experiences

3.    Help to level the STEAM tools playing field for students in Yellowstone County.  Every school will be able to host Library led workshops or utilize the crates for teacher-led instruction.

By accepting the funds from the Billings Library Foundation and Phillips 66, the Library will be able to enhance the quality of outreach in our community and deepen partnerships with local agencies.

City Council may:

• Approve acceptance of the Community Crates project funds, or;
• Disapprove the award.

There is no budgetary impact.  All equipment purchases and instruction development will be paid for through the granted funds.

Staff recommends that the City Council accept the "Community Crates" project funds from the Billings Library Foundation and Phillips 66.