Kathryn Rosenburg, programs coordinator at the St. Johns County Main Branch Library, has been selected for a Massachusetts Institute of Technology program as one of 14 librarians nationwide. She plans to use the opportunity to bring hands-on science and art activities to library branches throughout the county.

Rosenburg was chosen for MIT's Public Library Innovation Exchange Ambassador Program, known as PLIX, St. Johns County announced Tuesday, Oct. 20. The program runs through May 2027 and connects library professionals seeking to expand science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) learning in their communities.

The 2026-27 cohort includes librarians serving rural, tribal, military base, suburban and urban communities. Rosenburg is one of two Florida ambassadors, alongside Loretta "Rhett" Thompson of the Miami-Dade Public Library System.

"I also want to take these programs beyond the Main Branch Library and make them available to all of our communities," Rosenburg said in the county's announcement.

Portable STEAM kits planned for county libraries

One of Rosenburg's goals is to create 12 portable STEAM kits that staff at any branch can use with minimal setup. The kits would expand access to hands-on learning activities across the St. Johns County Public Library System without requiring specialized training at each location.

Rosenburg already runs a Learning Hub at the Main Branch that offers monthly hands-on STEAM activities focused on topics such as dinosaurs, outer space and the human body.

She has also painted murals on the branch's walls and windows. Her murals in the teen area and near the seed library remain on display year-round, while the mural at the entrance to the children's area changes to reflect different themes and events.

On her profile on MIT's PLIX ambassador page, Rosenburg listed art and video games as her areas of expertise and said she had been preparing a large program for World Space Week.

MIT program connects librarians nationwide

The PLIX Ambassador Program is in its fifth year and has built a network of 81 library ambassadors nationwide, according to MIT.

Ambassadors attend monthly meetings, test PLIX activities in their libraries and share resources with their broader library systems. The program encourages participants to adapt hands-on learning experiences to the needs of their communities.

The 2026-27 cohort also includes librarians from a range of public library systems across the country, bringing together professionals who serve communities of different sizes and backgrounds.

The cohort's showcase presentation is scheduled for April 15, 2027, when participants will share their work and experiences.

Residents can learn more about available STEAM activities through the St. Johns County Public Library System.