North Shelby Library Offers Free STEM and Life Skills Kits

Books That Build Skills introduced its Story Quest program at North Shelby Library on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The initiative places educational kits on the library shelves, allowing patrons to check out materials that combine storytelling with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities. The program is available at no cost to library users.

Loxley Browne, the founder of the Birmingham-based nonprofit, presented the collection to visitors. The core of the program is a seven-book series centered on Addie, a young girl who moves from a fictional location called Creativity Code to Huntsville, Alabama. Each book in the series focuses on a specific life skill, ranging from adjusting to a new school to managing time and planning for the future.

The books are designed for active engagement rather than passive reading. They are printed on graph paper to encourage children to sketch ideas in the margins and answer questions as they read. Browne stated that she hopes these written reflections will serve as meaningful artifacts for children to revisit as they grow older. The narrative blends fiction with elements of Browne’s own life, leaving readers to determine which experiences are real.

The kits extend the learning experience through hands-on components suitable for individual readers, homeschool groups, youth organizations, and classrooms. Families and educators can borrow the materials from North Shelby Library for a 30-day period. The content covers a wide array of topics, including code-breaking, Egyptian hieroglyphics, budgeting for travel, and pitching business ideas to executives. The final book in the initial arc focuses on life planning and future goals.

Yvonne Avila, a sponsor of the initiative, supported the third book in the series due to its focus on project management. Avila noted that this skill has been important in her professional career, while her daughter, Grace, connected with the story’s filmmaking elements. Grace, a 17-year-old senior at Chelsea High School, said the program offers practical lessons that help young people feel more confident in new situations. She emphasized the value of learning through experience and hands-on activities as students prepare for college and adulthood.

Browne originally developed the series after realizing that storytelling could reach more children than small-group conversations. The nonprofit, headquartered in Birmingham, is working to expand the program nationally. Browne is also exploring ways for young people to help secure sponsorships that would bring the kits to additional libraries. This approach aims to develop communication and organizational skills in young volunteers while making educational resources available to their communities.

The organization plans to research and develop additional installments, with a new series of books expected to follow the first collection. North Shelby Library is located at 5521 Cahaba Valley Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242. Information about the program is available at northshelbylibrary.org.