PREPARING FOR THE PROGRAM: Under the Resources field below, you can access products of the grant that will help you prepare to deliver this program beginning with the detailed Program Handbook. The handbook contains background information and all the program session plans for this combined literacy-innovation initiative called "Making Literacy-Innovation Connections for Rural Public Libraries and Their Youngest Patrons." The program was piloted in 10 rural libraries in NYS, NC, AZ, and CO. It was designed by a team of 6 librarians including leaders in the makerspace and innovation areas. Informally, the program is called "Inspiring Invention Through Stories" because of its heavy emphasis on literary and informational texts that inspire inventive thinking. Some libraries alternately call the program "Curious Kids Invent." Literacy is also addressed through the story element in that all the problem-based scenarios in the 24 session plans revolve around an imaginary place called Curiosity Creek. Children must create an invention that solves the problem introduced in the scenario. Return to the project's overview page to access grant products related to marketing, running the program, and evaluating it.

Program Handbook, K-3, literacy, story, innovation, public libraries, rural libraries