As part of the NASA@ My Library program STAR Net is partnering with the American Library Association to facilitate Affinity Group discussions for libraries to discuss important topics!

Affinity Groups convene on a variety of member-defined topics designed to help build the capacity of library professionals to incorporate NASA SMEs and NASA STEAM activities into their programs and services while supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Affinity Groups meet in small groups to foster discussion; these meetings will be held at various frequencies, as needed.

For example, Affinity Group members may convene for a series of discussions on working with preschoolers, teens, or tweens; another Group might meet quarterly to share lessons learned in incorporating NASA STEAM activities into face-to-face programs, take-and-make or circulating kits, and outreach to support local community needs. Affinity Groups are open to the library profession at large, in addition to NASA@ My Library Partners, Mentors, and State Library Agency Advisory Panel members.

All it takes to join in these discussions is an account on ALA Connect. ALA Connect accounts are completely free and open to the public — no need for ALA membership! Once your account is created, you can join the NASA@ My Library Affinity Groups discussion group here.

Having issues signing up for ALA Connect? ALA’s Public Programs office is here to help! You can reach out to them at publicprograms@ala.org.

See you in the Affinity Groups!