BUTLER, Wis. - Dec. 20, 2024 - PRLog -- The Milwaukee section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) presented the Butler Public Library with its 2024 "Science Kits For Public Libraries" (SKPL) grant.

The SKPL grant is an IEEE program that promotes STEAM at the local library.

The Butler Public Library is the seventh recipient of the IEEE Milwaukee grant.

The Butler location will provide "STEAM Kit Library of Things" available for checkout. These will support exploring foundational engineering concepts, coding, robotics, cognitive learning, and electronic circuitry.

"Our success will be measured through circulation data." library director, Beth Stavros said. "We will pull metrics on circulation counts. This will allow us to track the total checkouts for each item and target age groups that are most useful for our community."

The team will analyze additional survey data from area teachers and homeschooling families for a complete 360-degree review of the adoption of these newly added science kits.

"Initiatives like these truly make volunteer leadership roles special," said Chris Lambrou (Metro MLS CIO and IEEE Milwaukee Chair). "Making a difference is our endgame. The Milwaukee IEEE section is lucky to have great partners like the Butler Public Library to help make this vision a reality."

Funding for the IEEE Milwaukee Science Kits for Public Libraries grant is provided from donations within the Greater Milwaukee area. Primary funding for this SKPL grant is from the Eaton Corporation - a power management company with a Milwaukee presence (South Milwaukee, WI).

"The entire IEEE Milwaukee executive committee would like to express their gratitude to the Butler Public Library team and is excited to support the STEAM Kit Library program," Lambrou said. "We believe that the local library is a beacon for knowledge growth within the community and paramount to our mission of supporting an interest in science and engineering roles in general."

About IEEE Milwaukee

The IEEE Milwaukee section was founded in 1910 and includes affinity groups in the following studies: Electromagnetic Compatibility, Power and Energy, Magnetics, Engineering in Medicine and Biology, and student chapters at MSOE, UW-Milwaukee, and Marquette.

Interested in donations to the IEEE Milwaukee SKPL grant? Submitting a library grant request?

Contact: Chris Lambrou chris.lambrou.us@ieee.org

About Eaton

Eaton's mission is to improve the quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services. We provide sustainable solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical and mechanical power – more safely, more efficiently, and more reliably. Eaton's 2020 revenues were $17.9 billion, and we sell products to customers in more than 175 countries. We have approximately 87,000 employees. We are hiring: Visit  www.eaton.com/careers.

About Butler Public Library

The Butler Public Library is part of the Bridges Library System, which serves 24 libraries throughout Waukesha and Jefferson Counties. Butler Public Library was established by a small but dedicated group of women, with 500 donated books and a small collection of furniture and equipment. The library was originally located in the front room of the Village Hall where the clerk had her office. It later moved to a 1,500-square-foot location in the same building that had once been the maintenance garage.

Today, the Butler Public Library is a 5,900-square-foot library and is open 38 hours a week to serve the needs of the greater Butler community. Offering a variety of programs for infants all the way up to seniors.

More information: https://www.butler.lib.wi.us/

Photo credit: Nicole Ertl