| Celebrate Citizen Science Day...
in your Library!
Citizen Science Day (April 14), presented by SciStarter and the Citizen Science Association, is an annual event to celebrate volunteers, practitioners, and projects, and to introduce more people to opportunities to get involved in local or global projects in need of their help.
Libraries across the country can join in the celebration! SciStarter has provided some examples, descriptions, links, and “how to” resources to help you get started. If you’re already planning to participate, consider sharing your ideas in via Twitter using the hashtag #CitSciDay2018. They would love to hear from you!
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Join Public Libraries Across the Nation in Celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd!
Will your library be hosting an Earth Day event for your community? If so, STAR Net would love to add your library to our event map demonstrating the impact that libraries are having in their communities. And don't forget our special collection of resources including STEM activities, printable materials, images and links, that will provide your library withIseveral fun programming opportunities for your patrons.
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InSight Mars Lander Launch
On May 5, InSight will begin its six-month journey from the coast of California to the plains of Mars. Once it lands, it will use seismic instruments to explore the interior of Mars in ways that we’ve never “seen” before! Launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base, it is expected to land on the Red Planet on Nov. 26, 2018. InSight is a mission to Mars, but it is more than a Mars mission. It will help scientists understand the formation and early evolution of all rocky planets, including Earth.
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The Parker Solar Probe Launch: How Will Your Library Be Involved?
Date: Thursday May 17, 2018
Time: 3pm EDT / 2pm CDT / 1pm MDT / 12pm PDT In the summer of 2018, NASA will launch the Parker Solar Probe. This small, car-sized spacecraft will travel into the Sun's atmosphere, within four million miles of our star's surface. Join Space Science Institute's Brooks Mitchell and Dr. Paul Dusenbery to learn all about NASA's first mission to "touch" the Sun and ways that your library can be involved.
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| Four State Libraries Join NASA@ My Library
The Space Science Institute is pleased to announce that four state partners have recently joined the NASA@ My Library team as pilot State Library Agency sites. (These include the states of Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Washington.) They are supported by their professional association - the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA). This fall SSI hopes to have an additional eleven state libraries join this exciting initiative.
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Kit 1: Sun-Earth-Moon Connections |
| Our first four state library partners will receive and then circulate 3 science kits over the next year to public libraries in their state. Public libraries that receive a kit will have it for a few weeks and will use it to offer earth and space science programs to people of all ages in their community. The kit contains several hands-on activities, a Facilitation Guide, and is augmented with on-line resources. "Our state library partners will also help their public libraries connect with earth and space science experts in their state to deepen the impact on people in their community" said Paul Dusenbery, project Principal Investigator.
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| Discover the Fifteen Ways Genomics
is now Influencing our World
April 2018 will mark the 15th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project. To commemorate this milestone and the genomic advances that have been made since 2003, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will launch the '15 for 15' Celebration - unveiling 15 ways that genomics has and will continue to transform our world.
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| Engage Your Local Community in Lunar and/or Asteroid Science & Exploration!
The Center for Lunar Science and Exploration at the Lunar and Planetary Institute has portable traveling exhibits ideal for public libraries. These exhibits are an excellent, engaging complement to a lunar- or asteroid-themed public event. Each exhibit consists of a set of three pop-up banners, accompanied by resources and program ideas.
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| Hands-on STEM: Recipe for a Planet
Looking for a delicious way to teach your patrons about the upcoming Mars InSight Lander Launch on May 5th? Try Recipe for a Planet (Mars Edition). In this activity, participants build edible models of Earth and Mars to compare their sizes, internal layers, and surface features. Fusing your library’s programming with NASA launches? Now that’s a recipe for success!
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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 and Project BUILD 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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What is Citizen Science?
By Darlene Cavalier
Citizen science enables people from all walks of life to participate in formal and informal scientific research.
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Look Up at the Sky and Celebrate Earth Day – and Beyond – with NASA!
By Theresa Schwerin
The March STAR Net Webinar series featured NASA resources for library staff to use in their Earth Day programming this spring.
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Seeing is Believing
By Jennifer Beach
Eyes are fascinating things, and the variety of types of eyes and the ways they see makes for interesting programming.
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Rain, rain, and more rain. What will the worms do?
By Luna
There’s no way that anyone in my area hasn’t noticed all of the rain we’ve had lately, but it wasn’t until I was returning home from work one night...
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American Library Association (ALA)
June 21-26, 2018
More Info >>
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Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL)
Sept. 13-15, 2018
More Info >>
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Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL)
Sept. 13-15, 2018
More Info >>
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Association of Science-Technology Centers (ATSC)
Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2018
More Info >>
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Programming
Opportunities
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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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