The Science Math Resource Center's STEM Lending Library is filled with books, kits and hands-on resources for use in educational outreach. MSU students, staff and faculty and in-service educators can check out materials. The SMRC staff is happy to make recommendations of appropriate resources for age groups and situations.

Researchers who wish to create and disseminate educational resources for broader impacts and outreach are encouraged to contact the lending library staff to create kits and lessons plans to support their work.

The STEM Lending Library contains commercially available kits and curricula, as well as resources that have been developed specifically for Montana State University. Some resources tie directly to MSU research projects.

The list is constantly growing, but below is a sampling:

  • Technologies / STEM toys likeMicroBit, Snap Circuits, Foldscopes - origami microscope and PocketLabs Building toys/materials
  • Children's books to combine with STEM activities
  • Books with STEM activity ideas in science, engineering and math
  • Curriculum sets such as Project WET
  • Ready-to-go kits

Office Hours and Location:

413 Reid Hall (enter through 412 Reid Hall)

Fall 2025

Coming Soon...

Contact:

To arrange a visit to the Lending Library outside of regular library hours contact smrc@montana.edu or call (406) 994-7476.  

For Education Students

STEM Kits for the Classroom 

Pre-service education students can check-out STEM kits to take to the classroom for fun, engaging, educational activities with preK through middle school students.  The SMRC staff is ready to help you choose a kit and lesson plan.

MiniKite kit

ASPIRE Partnership

ASPIRE Logo

The Science Math Resource Center and its STEM Lending Library are proud partners of ASPIRE: Advancing Support, Preparation and Innovation in Rural Education, a project of MSU's Center for Research on Rural Education.

Each semester, the SMRC creates hands-on STEM kits that are used by EDU 101 students in their visits to rural schools surrounding Bozeman. Kits often feature topics related to MSU research centers or projects, such as NASA AEROKATS and ROVER Education Network; Northwest Earth and Space Science Pathways; My Home, My Health; and MSU's Applied Quantum CORE.

Topics have ranged from circuitry and reverse engineering to land cover classification and microbes. Kits that are developed for the ASPIRE project are then available to all MSU students for use in education and outreach.

For Researchers

Broader Impacts and Outreach

The SMRC team works with researchers to create and disseminate educational kits, activities, and other STEM resources for broader impacts and outreach.

The Lending Library can house an educational kit or other STEM resource created from short-term, grant-funded projects, ensuring sustainability and legacy, even after the project has concluded.

Questions? Contact Suzi Taylor at taylor@montana.edu