PLIX Team
Engage your diverse library audiences through STEAM learning with PLIX and MIT!
The Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) at Massachusetts Institute for Technology’s Open Learning invites public library professionals to apply for our 2024-2025 Library Ambassador Program.
From October 2024 through May 2025, join a cohort of 12 like-minded library professionals to try PLIX activities, learn about creative learning pedagogy, and strengthen your local library community bonds with critical audiences through STEAM learning experiences.
You are…
- a library professional in a public library setting in the United States
- passionate about bringing more high quality STEAM programming to your library community
- interested in growing your library leadership capacity with like-minded peers
We are…
- a team of MIT educators and researchers passionate about STEAM education
- deeply committed to supporting diverse community bonds through thoughtfully facilitated creative learning experiences and lifelong learning
Together we will…
- co-create a cozy cohort of library professionals excited to share creative STEAM learning with our local communities, library systems, and the larger library community
- share ideas and practices for strengthening local community connections through experiences with different library audiences
- play test new PLIX activities with MIT researchers
- foster ways to share our experiences and narratives with a global audience
So come apply to be a PLIX Library Ambassador — we look forward to getting to know you.
Application deadline is Thu September 19, 2024, 11:59pm ET.
Notifications sent out on Thu September 26, 2024.
Ambassador Expectations
- Join us for monthly Ambassador meetings and PLIX activity workshops. These are all on Thursdays 1-2pm EST.
- Try out 2 PLIX activities in your library and document the experience. This can be run by just you or in collaboration with a library peer or community leader.
- Playtest a new PLIX activity (We have plans to design a climate activity, an AI activity, or both!)
- Share PLIX resources with your library system, or larger library community. We will work with you on this.
- A final share out presentation (or writeup) of your experience offering creative STEAM learning in your library! (Invite your library staff / director, and larger PLIX community)
Ambassador Stipend
Based on our experience with our past Ambassador Program, we’ve found that in lieu of an honorarium, sending materials works best.
- Choose 3 PLIX curated activity kits for your library, we’ll send you the materials
- $50 reimbursement for additional materials for your library program or library staff workshop — this can include snacks, storage and organization, and facilitation materials.
Our previous Ambassadors loved…
- 💗 Meeting like-minded peers and collaborating on, creating, and sharing ideas and resources
- 📦 Trying out PLIX activities, and getting free activity kits to use in their libraries and library systems
- 🧠Sharing the creative learning mindset and supporting the STEAM confidence of their library staff
- 🎖Receiving professional recognition and growing their leadership skills
- 🪴Continuing to be a PLIX collaborator beyond the Ambassador Program
Last year we had a cohort of 20 PLIX Creative Learning Ambassadors to focus on STEM confidence to bring more STEAM activities to their libraries.
This year we’re looking for a smaller, more intentional cohort of 12 Ambassadors, from our existing or new PLIX community members to build an ongoing relationship with PLIX and the larger MIT Community of educators, staff, and researchers.