On Monday, March 10, 2020, Sparta Public Library collaborated with the Sparta High School Anime Club. Fourteen students attended Sparta Public Library’s Project Next Generation’s (PNG) STEM Class. The students were given Architectural Engineering, Erector Engineering, and Real Bridge Building Kits to work with and were encouraged to choose the kit of their choice. They were allowed to work alone or work in a group.  Four construction houses were built, three bridges are under construction and one Erector robot was in the making. At the end of the class workshop, the students participated in a quick survey about the program. The comments were all very positive and a few mentioned that they would like more days like this at the Library. Once they were finished, they enjoyed an Asian-style meal of home-made fried rice with cookies for desert.

PROJECT NEXT GENERATION (PNG) Funding for this project was awarded through a grant provided by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).