Washougal schools granted newest STEM literature

Washougal — Libraries at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary, Hathaway Elementary, Canyon Creek Middle School and Washougal High School recently increased their collections of STEM-related books thanks to a grant from the Washington State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. District library assistants applied for the grants, entitled “The future STEMS from reading.” Each school received 50 award-winning STEM hardback, non-fiction books and three professional collection titles. Additionally, Jemtegaard Middle School received a grant for $1,000 worth of unlimited Science eBooks. These grants help school libraries update their STEM collections because materials in these subject areas date more quickly and so need to be renewed more frequently. According to a press release about the grants recent budget cuts due to the recession have resulted in many school districts cutting their budgets, specifically when it came to library resources. Because of the grants these updated materials are already on Washougal shelves and being read and checked out by students. “Our Washougal School District libraries are helping to integrate Common Core and technology into our collections,” said Hillary Marshall, library media specialist at Washougal High School. “We are thrilled to bring these books to our schools for students.”