You Belong in the STEM Library: Outreach Addressing the Unique Needs of Students

Abstract

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students at Penn State University’s University Park (PSU UP) Campus embody a hard-working and disparate group of individuals. Students in the STEM fields major in everything from mechanical engineering to math to nursing and more. The undergraduate and graduate student demographics are even more diverse than their majors, with traditional, nontraditional, first-generation, and veteran students, as well as international students from more than 80 countries. The PSU administration has recently begun to vocally advocate for intentional work to center a sense of belonging for all students. We believe belonging is central and essential for an academic library space, and the administrative support has encouraged more active approaches. This article reflects on our efforts to foster this sense of belonging for all students in the PSU UP STEM Libraries.