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Bring Home The Science

2022-01-05T15:59:07-07:00

by Susan Borders, Darby Free Public Library, PA On Friday, March 11, 2020, at 3 pm, I received a call from my Board President.  He gave the following directions, “Close the Library at 5 pm. We don’t know when we will reopen.” COVID-19 had arrived in Darby Borough and we were to shelter in place. The Darby Library Board of Directors were kind enough to keep paying the staff. The dedicated staff had issues with doing nothing. Within a week, we were sneaking back into the Library. Like the shoemaker’s elves working in secret, everything became clean, and organized. We missed [...]

Bring Home The Science2022-01-05T15:59:07-07:00

How to Turn a STEM Experiment into a Library Public Program

2021-12-27T15:49:04-07:00

Written by Valerie Marshall, Community Library Manager, Broward County Library I have been offering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related programs to the general public in science museums, continuing education classes, and libraries for over a decade. Many of my library customers call me “The Space Lady” because I have a telescope and a picture of an astronaut in my office, and I’m always encouraging my customers to check out telescopes or come to my STEM programs. Through these experiences, I have learned how to put together successful STEM public programs, and I’d like to share some of my strategies [...]

How to Turn a STEM Experiment into a Library Public Program2021-12-27T15:49:04-07:00

Volunteers and Choosing Them Intentionally 

2021-11-10T12:39:39-07:00

By Kevin Tolley, Solano County Library  When thinking about finding volunteers for STEM programming, there are two kinds of groups to consider: Subject Matter Experts (SME) and non-experts (who I’ll just refer to as volunteers). The SME’s are particularly helpful and since I didn't have a lot of STEM expertise in our library staff I did a lot with them during NASA@ My Library 1.0. That meant I leaned on the SME’s for expert knowledge in order to bring quality programming to the library. Finding them was just a matter of persistence. Volunteers, on the other hand, are a bit more [...]

Volunteers and Choosing Them Intentionally 2021-11-10T12:39:39-07:00

Celebrate Water at Your Library this Earth Science Week and Beyond!

2021-10-11T12:09:56-06:00

Earth Science Week (October 10th-16th, 2021) is upon us, and this year communities have the chance to celebrate Earth's most precious resource with the theme, "Water Today and for the Future." Libraries are great places for communities to explore this important topic now and in advance of the 2022 CSLP summer reading theme, “Oceans of Possibilities.” We hope that this blog can provide some resources and strategies for you! The STAR Library Network has recently partnered with several outstanding organizations on We Are Water, a project that works with libraries throughout the Four Corners region to explore and share stories about water within [...]

Celebrate Water at Your Library this Earth Science Week and Beyond!2021-10-11T12:09:56-06:00

Planning a JWST Launch Event? Check out the Look Up! Explore Our Universe STEAM Activity Toolkit!

2021-12-13T14:31:58-07:00

The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in December 2021. This launch is a great opportunity for you to engage your patrons with an exciting new NASA science mission! To help you program for this once-in-a-lifetime event, we put together a digital STEAM Activity Toolkit as part of the NASA@ My Library Look Up! Explore Our Universe campaign containing five ready-to-deploy hands-on activities related to the science behind NASA’s new space telescope mission. Each activity has been selected to be low-cost, adaptable, and fun for you and your patrons! This digital toolkit includes blog posts here on starnetlibraries.org to [...]

Planning a JWST Launch Event? Check out the Look Up! Explore Our Universe STEAM Activity Toolkit!2021-12-13T14:31:58-07:00

“From Our Town to The Moon, Mars, and Beyond” Exhibit Opportunity Announcement  

2021-09-15T12:28:29-06:00

The Space Science Institute is pleased to announce a new exhibit opportunity for public libraries. 'From Our Town to the Moon, Mars and Beyond' will launch in March 2022, traveling to 8 libraries across the country. All public and tribal libraries are welcome to apply. The application will open on September 15th, and will close November 15th  The exhibit, kits, and activities will focus on the path towards a permanent presence on the Moon, the International Space Station as the micro-gravity laboratory, and current and future missions to Mars. Exhibit themes include the differences and similarities between Earth, the Moon, and Mars, how we're getting [...]

“From Our Town to The Moon, Mars, and Beyond” Exhibit Opportunity Announcement  2021-09-15T12:28:29-06:00

The Joy in Learning

2021-06-16T13:30:57-06:00

written by Terri McDougal, Head of Children’s Services at Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston, West Virginia   “It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” -Leo F. Buscaglia   It has been a difficult year for so many people.  In my library system, the Kanawha County Public Library in West Virginia, we have not yet resumed in-person programming.  Many families are still not visiting our libraries because while adults are vaccinated against COIVD-19, children under the age of 12 are not.  We have seen many [...]

The Joy in Learning2021-06-16T13:30:57-06:00

Lessons Learned from a Pandemic

2021-06-04T13:49:48-06:00

written by Terri McDougal, Head of Children's Services at Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston, West Virginia   As was the case around the country, the COVID-19 global pandemic struck hard in West Virginia.  Not necessarily in the number of cases or number of lives lost, in comparison to other areas of the United States, but in terms of other factors.  These include the closing of schools, churches, businesses, and yes, public libraries.  The economic devastation in a state that was already struggling is staggering.  Add in other factors such as the ongoing opioid crisis, the loss of population as people move [...]

Lessons Learned from a Pandemic2021-06-04T13:49:48-06:00

Citizen Science Spotlight – Cicadas!

2021-05-29T21:12:51-06:00

It would be a shame if we didn't talk about cicadas right now. Everyone is talking about cicada brood x right now. It wouldn't be right not to feature citizen science opportunities about our emerging friends. Brood X is one of the biggest and most widespread, but will not be seen by everyone, but don't worry - there's probably a brood coming your way soon enough. If you live in an area that cicadas don't visit, it's still a chance to educate your community on what's happening in another area of the country that they might not experience firsthand. Cicadas hatch [...]

Citizen Science Spotlight – Cicadas!2021-05-29T21:12:51-06:00

Landers and Landers and Egg Drops, Oh My!

2021-05-29T20:55:37-06:00

Some of you may have heard in the news recently that NASA named SpaceX as the winner of its recent lunar lander design solicitation for returning astronauts to the surface of the Moon in the next few years. The three finalists consisted of Dynetics, SpaceX and the Blue Origin led National Team. The designs were all very distinct from each other and addressed the challenges of landing astronauts on the surface of the Moon and returning them to lunar orbit in very different ways. You can see the designs here https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C6hNa8ZCvwowU4rVmhUAcj-1024-80.jpg.webp The SpaceX design represents a single-stage lander that will be [...]

Landers and Landers and Egg Drops, Oh My!2021-05-29T20:55:37-06:00
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