submitted by Ada Ren-Mitchell
Are you looking for library game ideas that sneakily introduce STEM concepts? Or you have many ideas but not enough time to turn them into reality?
The MIT Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) invites public library professionals in the U.S. to apply for our 2026-2027 Library Ambassador Program (Deadline: Monday, September 21). From October 2026 through May 2027, join a cohort of 12 like-minded library professionals to try PLIX activities, learn about creative learning pedagogy, and strengthen your local library community through STEAM learning experiences. No prior experience required!
More about PLIX
The Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) is a project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the pK-12 Initiative at the MIT Media Lab. Our work includes co-designing STEAM activities in collaboration with public library professionals and MIT researchers and educators, professional development in creative learning pedagogy and facilitation, and supporting a community of practice. Our larger mission is to support the STEM confidence of library professionals to increase access to quality STEM education for deepening community engagement and lifelong learning.
PLIX Community in Action: Usable STEAM Gaming Experiences
PLIX Ambassador Dana Phelps in Hedgesville, WV, created a free, printable dinosaur-themed board game, Codesaurus, for ages 5 and up to learn early coding literacy and familiarize with the language of computational thinking.
PLIX Ambassador Jennifer Vinzons in Kapolei, HI, co-designed a Hawaiian avian STEAM escape room with a PLIX intern to invite families to playfully learn the life stages, symmetry, and migratory patterns of endemic Hawaiian birds.
Recently launched in April 2026, the PLIX LLM-Algorithm Arcade activity offers a series of offline games that embody the process of machine learning and large language models, and help us begin to question our trust inartificial intelligence.
PLIX Ambassador Benefits
A more resilient and creative library community
PLIX builds the capacity of library professionals in STEM literacies, educational pedagogy that supports children, tweens, teens, and family programs. By cultivating the creativity and curiosity of your community, we can grow our resilience and ability to address future problems we’ve never seen before.
Better library programs, new creative STEAM offerings
When library professionals participate in the PLIX Ambassador Program, their experience enhances your library patrons’ experience of existing library programs, and adds new creative STEAM activities to your library offerings. These activities are tried and true, co-designed with public library professionals and MIT researchers and educators. They range from exploring circuits, citizen science, health and climate, early computer science literacies (including the mechanisms behind artificial intelligence), and they cultivate learner agency, curiosity, persistence, and a love for lifelong learning.
Time Commitment: High Impact, Minimal Time
In 1-2 hours a month, from October through May, library professionals participating in this program don’t just learn from PLIX, they bond with their library peers across the country. This community of practice grows our collective knowledge, and improves future PLIX offerings for library communities.
Value
From the professional development sessions to physical materials to support from MIT staff, this free program is valued at $2100 per participating library professional.
Testimonials
“Finding this ambassadorship definitely helped me feel more legit. And having access to other librarians and seeing what they’re doing … It’s just been a great jumping off point,…a lot of confidence was gained and definitely improved my skill set.”
— Heba Thiele, Gretna Public Library, NE
“PLIX has helped me see, like anybody who’s engaging on whatever their level is [that] they’re still engaging. It just might not necessarily look like what I think it looks like.”
— Han Kane, Fond du Lac Public Library, WI
Honestly, the thing that blew my mind was the facilitation techniques…I still continue to do that till this day. I take a pause and be like, okay, what does this person need from me?”
— Azra Tahirovic, Queens Public Library, NY
Learn more and apply here
Important dates:
- ℹ️Thu Sept 10th, 1-2PM ET — Infosession
- 🦙Thu Sept 17th, 1-2PM ET — Free online make’n’meet workshop, PLIX LLM-Algorithm Arcade, Part 2
- 🚨Mon Sept 21st — Deadline for the PLIX Ambassador Program applications
- 💌Mon Sept 28th — Notification Date
- ✅Wed Sept 30th — Acceptance Deadline
- 💖Thu Oct 8th, 1-2PM ET — First gathering and unboxing
If you can’t participate this year, explore their site to find resources, like this Creative Learning Facilitation Guide, and other ways to get involved, like monthly workshops every third Thursday!
– By Ada Ren-Mitchell, a new member of ALA Gaming RT Outreach Committee…and the person running the MIT Public Library Innovation Exchange!