| Welcome to 2018!
Thanks for a memorable 2017 and Happy New Year. The STAR Library Network had a fantastic year in 2017 anchored by the solar eclipse event in August. With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, NASA, and NSF, SSI’s National Center for Interactive Learning distributed 2.1 million safe viewing glasses to 7,000 library locations including public library branches, bookmobiles, tribal libraries, library consortia, and state libraries. This was the largest single distribution of free glasses in the entire country and reached more people with glasses and information than any other educational effort for the 2017 eclipse. Kudos to all the libraries that participated.
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| THE FARTHEST: Voyager in Space
Free DVD Available to Libraries!
Following a successful nationwide campaign of free public screenings arranged through the NASA Museum Alliance, and two national public television broadcasts, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is offering DVDs of “The Farthest” to libraries around the country.
This award-winning film about NASA’s Voyager missions has been described as “powerful, poetic and cinematic” (Screen Scene), “a stirring salute to human ingenuity” (The Los Angeles Times), and a “dazzling documentary” (The New York Times). It’s an inspiring multi-generational story of science and engineering at their best, and the curiosity that drives us to explore both the universe around us, and our place within it.
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| Celebrate Engineers Week: Bring
Engineering to Life in Your Community!
From the sidewalks that we walk on to the buildings that we work in, engineering is all around us. From February 18-24, your library will have a chance to learn about the importance of engineering and bring it to life for kids, educators, and parents in a week-long celebration known as Engineers Week.
During this week, your library will have the opportunity to: - Celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world
- Increase public dialogue about the need for engineers
- Learn about the engineering design process through fun, hands-on activities
This year, STAR Net will be providing a variety of resources and activities that revolve around one of engineering’s most popular disciplines, Civil Engineering.
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| 2017 Library Eclipse Report Now Available!
STAR Net has compiled and released their final report for the 2017 Eclipse Project, which was prepared for Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, NASA, Google and the National Science Foundation. This report provides an overview of the project and detailed information on the selection process, eclipse resources, NASA partner and participating library results, and concluding remarks in addtion to the numerous stories, quotes and photos submitted by participating libraries across the United States.
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Build a Better Program
for Engineers Week
Date: Tuesday January 9, 2018
Time: 3pm EST / 2pm CST / 1pm MST / 12pm PST
Join STAR Net on January 9th to learn how YOU can bring engineering to your library during this exciting week-long event. We’ll go through several hands-on activities from the STEM Activity Clearinghouse that showcase how much fun it is to think, build, test, and do it again and will also learn why, when it comes it engineering, failure can be a good thing!
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Project Outcome
Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Time: 3pm EST / 2pm CST / 1pm MST / 12pm PST
The Public Library Association's field-driven initiative, Project Outcome, is a FREE online toolkit offering an innovative and easy-to-use platform for public libraries to measure the impact of their programs and services. For more details, click here.
This webinar provides an overview of the toolkit and examples of how libraries have been able to benefit from using Project Outcome. Additionally, staff will share STEM specific questions available to libraries within the toolkit and allow time to discuss outcome measurement needs for STEM programming.
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Join the STAR Net Blogging Team
to Show Your STEM Know-How! STAR Net has two spots open for bloggers. Bloggers will be compensated $500 for their contributions, and will be expected to post 8-12 in depth, or 15-20 quick posts over a 12 month period. If you're interested, please email Anne Holland at aholland@spacescience.org with a short list of suggested topics and a writing sample (1 or 2 paragraphs). These positions are renewable annually dependent on availability of funds. Thank you!
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When the Sun Goes Dark Featured in the Best of the Year Science Books for Children and Students The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Press has proudly announced that its children’s book When the Sun Goes Dark by Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz has been selected as one of the Outstanding Science Trade Books for 2017 by a review panel of teachers and librarians appointed by the Children’s Books Council and NSTA. With a total eclipse of the Moon coming to the U.S. on January 31, 2018 and January 30, 2019, and total eclipses of the Sun coming to South America in 2019 and 2020, this book will continue to be a timely introduction to an important topic in astronomy so be sure to check it out.
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Hands-on STEM: Team Machine
Team Machine is a classic icebreaker that gets participants moving around, working together, and laughing! This low-cost, low-prep, low-time activity asks participants to figure out the quickest way to move a ball or beanbag from person to person. Want to see it in action? Check out the recording of our Hands-on Fun from STAR Net - it is the first activity highlighted.
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The STAR Library Network (STAR Net) is a hands-on learning network for libraries and their communities across the country. STAR_Net focuses on helping library professionals build their STEM skills by providing “science-technology activities and resources” (STAR) and training to use those resources. Plus, engage public audiences nationwide in informal and lifelong learning with the excitement of exploration and discovery through new NASA@ My Library resources!
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STAR Net is built upon a strong network of collaborators and partners, led by the Space Science Institute’s (SSI) National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL). Partners include the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Afterschool Alliance, Education Development Center, Datum Advisors, Cornerstones of Science, and the Pacific Science Center. Major funding is provided by the National Science Foundation, NASA Science Mission Directorate, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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Libraries Rock
By Erin Wood
So, you’ve probably heard by now that the theme for this upcoming summer reading program is “Libraries Rock,” and at this point, you’re wondering how you can incorporate sound into your space-themed STEM program this summer.
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Paper Spheres: Experimentation with Decorations
By Luna
Leading up to the holidays, people are often busy buying gifts and decorating their homes. So, this year, I decided to offer different decorative crafts each week in December.
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Libraries Step Up As Partners
By STAR Net
This year, STAR Net partnered with the Afterschool Alliance to make library-afterschool partnerships a theme for Lights On Afterschool 2017, a nationwide event drawing attention to afterschool programs and their partners...
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Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
Feb. 6-9, 2018
More Info >>
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Public Library Association (PLA)
Mar. 20-24, 2018
More Info >>
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American Library Association (ALA)
June 21-26, 2018
More Info >>
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Summer Reading Program - Theme: Music, Slogan: Libraries Rock
Summer, 2018
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Lights On Afterschool
October, 2018
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International Observe the
Moon Night
October 20, 2018
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