STEAM Discovery Kits

Steam Discovery Kits

Build, code, and investigate with NYPL’s amazing STEAM Discovery Kits, available to borrow from more than 50 branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island! STEAM Discovery Kits enable kids and tweens to explore robotics, circuitry, microbiology, engineering, coding, and more using exciting tools, toys, and books at home. Find out more about the kits and where you can borrow one. 

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What Is STEAM?

Two children playing with a STEAM Discovery Kit at the library.

STEAM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM activities and programs are an excellent opportunity to introduce concepts and promote skills that can set you up for creative, scientific, and collaborative thinking now and in the future. The New York Public Library offers lots of ways for kids and teens to explore STEAM concepts and develop their skills! Plus, you can borrow one of our five STEAM Discovery Kits—Microbiology, Circuits, Young Coders, Young Builders, and Sphero Robotics—from more than 50 branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Kits are available at the following locations:

Bronx

Allerton Library*, Baychester LibraryBelmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural CenterBronx Library Center*, Clason’s Point Library*, Eastchester Library*, Edenwald Library*, Francis Martin LibraryHigh Bridge LibraryJerome Park LibraryKingsbridge Library*, Morris Park LibraryMorrisania Library*, Mosholu LibraryMott Haven Library*, Parkchester Library*, Pelham Bay LibrarySedgwick LibrarySoundview LibraryThrog’s Neck LibraryTremont LibraryVan Cortlandt LibraryWestchester Square LibraryWest Farms LibraryWakefield LibraryWoodstock Library*.

Manhattan

67th Street Library96th Street LibraryAguilar LibraryBloomingdale Library*, Chatham Square Library*, Columbus LibraryCountee Cullen LibraryGeorge Bruce Library*, Grand Concourse LibraryHamilton Grange LibraryHarlem Library*, Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library*, Inwood LibraryMacomb's Bridge Library*, Morningside Heights LibraryOttendorfer LibraryRiverside LibraryRoosevelt Island LibrarySt. Agnes LibrarySeward Park Library*, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)Tompkins Square LibraryWashington Heights Library*.

Staten Island

Charleston LibraryMariners Harbor LibrarySt. George Library Center*, Richmondtown LibraryStapleton LibraryWest New Brighton Library.

* Please note that Sphero Robotics Kits are only available to borrow at branches marked with an asterisk above. They are also available to explore in person at those branches!

If you want to check the availability of a particular kit, please call ahead to see what’s available.

 

New! Microbiology Kits

Microbiology STEAM Discovery Kit books and components displayed on a table.

Explore the microscopic mysteries of everyday objects with this microbiology kit. Use the microscope to see how things look up close. Examine everything from real animal hairs to plants you find in the park to understand them on a micro level. Kit includes: Two handheld microscopes, 48 slides, three books. Download the guide.

New! Circuits Kits

Circuits STEAM Discovery Kit books and components displayed on a table.

Build your own arcade! Using batteries, a simple circuit board, and wires, you can build hundreds of projects and games. The manual included shows you how to build each one, step by step. Kit includes: Snap Circuits Arcade Kit (circuit board, snap and jumper wires, game parts), Big Manual, two books. Download the guide.

New! Young Builders Kits

Young Builders STEAM Discovery Kit books and components displayed on a table.

In this kit, you'll find a 61-piece set of a Marble Run—one of our very favorite playsets for supporting creative, open-ended, kid-driven play. Children simply connect the colorful building pieces together to build tall towers, slides, mazes, and anything they can imagine! Unstructured play with building sets helps kids grow problem-solving and design skills. Kit includes: Marble Run Classic set and three books. Download the guide.

Young Coders Kits

Photo of an NYPL Young Coders Kit spread out on a table with items including: Coding Critters robot set, Let’s Go Code game, and two books

By coding a robot pet to move in different directions or guiding a family member through a maze, kids will practice real-world computer science skills such as decomposition and sequential thinking. Kit includes: Coding Critters robot set, Let’s Go Code game, and two books. Download the guide.

Sphero Robotics Kits

Photo of an NYPL Sphero Robotics Kit spread out on a table with items including: Sphero Mini robot and activity kit, iPad, and a six-book graphic novel series

Take control of Sphero Mini—the amazing rolling robot—and guide Mini through mazes or to victory in a bowling game. Create challenges for Sphero using materials from home, or the construction set items and activity cards included. Use the iPad to steer Mini with a virtual joystick, or direct it to navigate puzzles using code! (Please note that the iPad included cannot be used for web browsing.) Kit includes: Sphero Mini robot and activity kit, iPad, and a six-book graphic novel series. Download the guide.


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