Libraries Count

We are thrilled to share our IMLS-funded project, Libraries Count.  

​Our work will support library staff in their work with families and children from diverse backgrounds around early math.

What is Libraries Count?

Libraries Count is a 3-year applied research project is led by Dr. Alissa Lange (PI), Director of EC STEM Lab and the Center of Excellence in STEM Education at East Tennessee State University, and Dr. Bharat Mehra (Co-PI), faculty in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. 


Press Release - ETSU

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services RE-252310-OLS-22.

Want to Try It?

What are We Doing?

Our Aims
  1. Co-Creating an online professional learning program for library staff focused on math learning for children ages 3-5 and their families.
  2. Building the capacity of library staff to include more math in library programming while integrating the needs, expectations, and realities of diverse families and their children.
  3. Advocating for a strengths-based lens in our work with children, families, library staff, and communities.
  4. Presenting the major domains in early math, including equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible ways of knowing and doing math with young children, concrete ways of building math into library programming, and strategies for engaging families in this work.
  5. Evaluating the Libraries Count project throughout (Years 1-3), using mixed methods approaches.

Our Leadership Team (LT)

The team works to coordinate the project, lead research, incorporate the input, and share opportunities!

Project PI

Dr. Alissa Lange

Project Co-PI

Dr. Bharat Mehra

LT Member

Dr. Carol Trivette

LT Member

Dr. Kwangma Ko

        Project Coordinator                                       Project Assistants

           Helen Orimaye                          Amie Perry                                Nicolas Arias

Our Development Group

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With representatives from all the 10 participating states and funding from IMLS, Our Development Group are currently collaborating to co-develop and evaluate the modules to roll out a FREE professional learning program through Webjunction soon!

The program is focused on math programming for young children and their families across diverse contexts. ​
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Kristin Grabarek
Library Programming for Diverse Communities
Colorado
Taylor Floria
Frederick County Public Libraries
 Maryland
Karen Stuppi
New Brunswick Free Public Library
New Jersey
Pamela Archer Hamlin
Prince George's County Memorial Library System
Maryland
Lauren Williams
Arapahoe Libraries
Colorado
Jenny Claiborne 
Martin Public Library 
Tennessee
Hanna Gray
Gadsden Public Library
Alabama
Samantha Cote
Windham Public Library
Maine
Lynda Mallory
Frederick
Maryland
Jennifer Skinner
City Of Westbrook​
Sebago, Maine
Additional Development Group contributors (past and present):
  • Sharon Phillips, New York State Library, New York
  • Susana (Susie) Beltrán-Grimm, California/Indiana/Oregon
  • Brie Chillious, Quincie Douglas Library, Arizona
  • Deepshikka Mishra, family member, New Jersey
  • Patricia Pederson, Betts Library, New York
  • Margaret Capobianco, Rockville Centre Public Library, New York
  • Meg Beer, Woods Memorial Library, Arizona
  • Catherine Miller, Maine
  • Kimberly Brenneman, California/New Jersey
  • Amanda Presnell, Elizabethton, TN
  • Lori Nicole Forrest, Tiptonville, Tennessee​


Our Advisory Board

  • Doug Clements, Distinguished University Professor, Kennedy Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning, University of Denver, CO
  • Maggie Caspe, Senior Research Consultant at the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE)
  • Kendra Davey, Literacy Initiatives Program Manager, Pima County Public Library, AZ
  • Hannah Lakin, STEM Education Specialist, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, ME
  • Sharon Philips, Library Development Specialist/Youth Services, New York State Library, NY
  • ​​Kristen Reed, Young Mathematicians at EDC in Boston, MA
  • Kate Green Smith, Youth Services and Special Projects Coordinator, TN State Library and Archives, Nashville (TN)
  • Mega Subramaniam, Professor & Associate Dean for Faculty, University of Maryland, MD
  • Karen Stuppi, New Brunswick Free Public Library, NJ
  • Jessica Young, Young Mathematicians at EDC in Boston, MA​
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services RE-252310-OLS-22.
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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MASST Program


Click here to learn more and get free activity plans for the Math and Science Story Time, MASST, program.

Science at Libraries Program

LEAP into Science
Discovery Center in Murfreesboro shares free kits to support science in libraries and elsewhere - connecting reading and STEM.

Learn more.
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