Science and literature come together for adults at library

In 2017, the Cloquet Public Library received a Rural Gateways grant for STEM programming in Cloquet and surrounding areas. The $3,500 National Science Foundation grant from the Califa Library Group will provide science-based programs for adults. While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) are popular topics for children’s education, they are rarely mentioned in adult programming. The programs funded by the grant are essentially “book club meets science café.” Participants can pick up a free book at the library, read it and come back to watch a short human interest video and discuss how the ideas in the book and video intersect with science in everyday life.

The next book for discussion is the nonfiction memoir “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren, a female scientist from rural Minnesota who learned to perform lab work with her heart and her hands. It is also the story of a relationship Jahren forged with a brilliant, wounded man who became her lab partner and best friend, and their adventures in science which took them around the world.

The discussion, which will be led by Betsy Dugan, is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the library. Light refreshments will be served. A signup sheet and books are available at the library. All are welcome.

“You don’t have to have a science degree or be an English professor to attend the book discussion, “says library director Beth Sorenson. “You only need to enjoy reading and want to share that experience with others.”

Rural Gateways is funded by the National Science Foundation and was created through a collaboration of Dartmouth College, The Califa Library Group, the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, Dawson Media Group, and the Institute for Learning Innovation.