MILWAUKEE - eTradeWire -- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Region 4 has awarded the "Science Kits For Public Libraries" (SKPL) grant to the St Francis Public Library.

The SKPL grant is an IEEE Region 4 initiative that promotes STEAM at the local public library.

As a result of the grant, the St Francis location will have "STEAM Kits" available for checkout. These kits will support the exploration of Motor Skills, Robotics, Coding, Economics, Construction plus much more.

The new "STEAM Kits" are in addition to the library's existing STEAM-related activities. This includes STEAM programming through the library explorer zone, teen/tween activities, and art labs. All of these are available for library patrons and homeschool families.

Initiatives like the IEEE SKPL grant are only valuable if people know about them. "We plan to get the word out" states library director, Amy Krahn. "We will promote them with articles in the library and City newsletters, social media, and visits with the local schools."  Krahn adds "Librarians will use materials from the kits in STEAM programming and inform families and local homeschool groups to let them know that they have access to the kits."

The local IEEE Milwaukee section presented the SKPL grant. "This is what it's all about," said Chris Lambrou (Metro MLS CIO and IEEE Milwaukee chair). "The SKPL program exists because we believe all children should have access to high-quality, self-learning, STEAM experiences."

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A donation from S&C Electric Company provided funding for the SKPL grant. "We are delighted to help fund the IEEE SKPL grant," says David Myers (Vice President-US Production Operations for S&C Electric Company). "We support and encourage the growth of future engineers and scientists. What better way than at the local public library."

"The entire IEEE Region 4 and Milwaukee executive committees express their gratitude to the St Francis Public Library team and the S&C Electric Company for their full support of the SKPL grant program, " Lambrou said. "Backing the IEEE mission to help foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity."

About IEEE Region 4

Region 4 is a geographic unit established by the Board of Directors of IEEE as a basic operating entity of IEEE for management and administrative purposes to represent and fulfill the needs of the members and the missions of the IEEE within its territory (mostly the US midwest). It is one of six such units within the USA and ten such units worldwide.

https://r4.ieee.org/sections/

SKPL is an IEEE – Region 4 Education program that enables public libraries to loan science kits to youth. Your donation makes science kits as easy to check out as a book!

https://r4.ieee.org/skpl/

About IEEE Milwaukee

The IEEE Milwaukee section, founded in 1910, 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.

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

About S&C Electric Company

For over a century, S&C Electric Company has redefined safe and reliable electricity distribution. Building on its legacy of caring for team members, excellent customer service, and technology leadership, the company continues to deliver innovative solutions for a safer, more reliable, and resilient electrical grid. With a vision for an outage-free, sustainable energy future, S&C's diverse, global workforce focuses on safety, quality, and empowering the transformation of the grid. Learn more at www.sandc.com.

https://www.sandc.com/

About St Francis Public Library

The mission of the St. Francis Public Library is to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the people in our community.

In 1986, construction began on a new St. Francis Library building at

4230 South Nicholson Avenue

St. Francis, WI 53235

(414) 481-7323

Contact: stfrancis@mcfls.org

https://www.stfrancislibrary.org/

Photo credit: Nicole Ertl