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What if the most impactful STEM learning in a school isn’t happening in a lab, but in the library?
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Elementary libraries are uniquely positioned for STEM learning—and not just because of the resources they hold.
“They’re a safe space… a low-stress place… a place for kids to explore,” Deskin explained.
That environment matters. In a school day often defined by structure, right answers, and time constraints, the library offers something different: permission to experiment. To try. To fail. To try again.
And that’s exactly what STEM learning requires.
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is how early exposure to STEM shapes long-term outcomes. Deskin pointed to confidence as a critical factor:
“Our kids are less likely… to develop that math and tech anxiety… it leads to that confidence building so that they can enter in those secondary years with confidence in STEM.”
That confidence isn’t built through lectures or worksheets. It’s built through doing—through trial and error, problem-solving, and what Deskin calls “useful confusion.”
That idea reframes failure. Instead of something to avoid, it becomes part of the learning process.
For many educators, STEM can feel intimidating—especially without a dedicated lab or budget. But Deskin is quick to push back on that idea.
“STEM is more than coding and robotics,” she said.
Some of the most effective activities are also the simplest:
The goal isn’t complexity—it’s engagement. And often, the most impactful learning happens when students are given a problem to solve and the freedom to figure it out.
That mindset—problem-solving rooted in real-world relevance—can lead to meaningful outcomes. Deskin shared an example of students who noticed waste in their school cafeteria and decided to do something about it.
“They saw a problem… they analyzed it… and convinced leadership… and solved that problem.”
That’s STEM at its best: not just learning concepts, but applying them in ways that matter.
At Camino Real Elementary, that philosophy comes to life through a Girls Who Code club led by Heather Augustine.
The program introduces students to coding in a collaborative, supportive environment—one that emphasizes both technical skills and personal growth.
“We do a lot of buddy coding… working in pairs or small groups,” Augustine shared.
The impact goes beyond the club itself.
“There will be a girl from our club… who says, ‘hold on, let’s see where the problem is,’” she said.
That moment—when a student steps in as a problem-solver and leader—is where the real value shows up.
One of the most powerful shifts happening in these spaces is how students think about mistakes.
“In so many places in the day, they’re expected to have the right answer… but here, it’s okay if it didn’t work,” Nix observed.
That shift builds resilience. It teaches students to debug, iterate, and persist—skills that extend far beyond STEM and into every area of life.
As technology evolves, so does the role of STEM education. Deskin pointed to the growing importance of AI literacy and human-centered design—helping students not just use technology, but understand its impact.
“We’re going to see… the human side of STEM,” she said, emphasizing empathy, ethics, and creativity alongside technical skills.
And libraries are the ideal place to start.
At its core, this conversation isn’t just about STEM. It’s about access. Confidence. Opportunity.
It’s about creating spaces where students can:
As Augustine put it, the library is a place where students can “learn from other stories… and then start to tell their own stories.”
And in today’s world, that might be the most important skill of all.
To hear more stories and ideas from libraries across Texas, listen to the Libraries Transform Texas podcast and browse past episodes in your favorite podcast app.
A new statewide public opinion poll conducted by KRC Research on behalf of the Texas Library Association confirms that Texans overwhelmingly value public libraries as essential public services.
National Library Week, taking place April 19–25, 2026, is a time to celebrate the vital role libraries and library professionals play in our communities.
