Libraries are powerful educational tools, but not every child has access to transportation to utilize them.

A collaboration between the Kinston Housing Authority and the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library will soon bring the resources of the library into the community. 

Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services that came through the State Library of North Carolina, beginning in August, elementary and middle school-aged children living at Jack Rountree apartments in Kinston will be able to attend a twice-weekly STEM 4 All program. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.

Jack Rountree Property Manager Dawn Whitfield said she had wanted to implement such a program for some time, but lacked the staff and funding to make it happen. 

“God puts the pieces in place to bring things to life,” Whitfield said. 

Melanie Morgan, who was hired as director of libraries for the Neuse Regional Library System last year, said she realized when she arrived in Kinston that transportation issues made after-school tutoring at the library impractical. 

“We started to think outside the box about how we could provide services to the community,” Morgan said. 

Conversations with Kinston Police Department Chief Alonzo Jaynes and the Kinston Housing Authority, Morgan said, led them to Jack Rountree Apartments and contact with Whitfield. 

The result of numerous conversations, Morgan said, is the STEM 4 All program. Two days a week, library staff and volunteers will meet students at the bus when they arrive home, and take them to the community center at Jack Rountree.

Morgan said the program will include a snack, a 45-minute STEM activity and then a period of individualized attention, including homework help and literacy tutoring. Students from the Lenoir County Early College High School will have the opportunity to fulfill their community service hours by helping out. 

Though the focus of the program is STEM, Morgan said she hopes to incorporate volunteers from the community with other areas of expertise as well. 

“We have a lot of talented individuals in the community, so we look forward to bringing them in for 45 minutes to do a painting class or something else, because we want to include all types of learning,” Morgan said. 

KHA Executive Director Rhonda Abbott said she was excited when she first heard the idea.

“Any time we have somebody who is going to bring that kind of opportunity to our property and our children, I think that’s really great,” Abbott said. 

Whitfield said she believes the program will be a bridge for students living at the property.

“It’s bringing that missing educational component closer to home. I’m hoping it will touch the ones that need it. I want to see them grow and flourish,” Whitfield said. 

The STEM 4 All Program will start in earnest when the school year begins, but it will get its initial kick-off Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. with a cookout and party held at Jack Rountree. During the month of August, the library will bring its summer reading program to the location to help familiarize kids and their parents with the program. 

If the program at Jack Rountree is successful, Morgan said there are plans in place to expand STEM 4 All to Carver Courts in January. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the Neuse Regional Library at 252-527-7066 or nrl@neuselibrary.org.