STAR Library Network

How Public Libraries can Bridge the Middle School STEM Gap
2019-12-12
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How Public Libraries can Bridge the Middle School STEM Gap
Note: This webinar was hosted by Urban Libraries Council (ULC)
STEM-related jobs are the fastest growing segment in our economy. Yet, many youth lack access to quality STEM programming and exposure to STEM career opportunities, limiting their opportunity to learn, explore and prepare for life. With support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, ULC launched the Partners for Middle School STEM initiative to help public libraries build innovative STEM programs and partnerships to reach underserved youth. Join us for a webinar on December 12 to hear from the libraries in this initiative’s Learning Cohort, discover general lessons learned from this project and pick up tips for enhancing your library’s STEM programming.
Presenters
Jennifer Blenkle, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Urban Libraries Council
Brooks Mitchell, Education Coordinator, Space Science Institute
Kelsey Hughes, Adult and Teen Services Specialist, Prince George’s Memorial Library System
Kelsey Williamson, Children’s Department Manager, Pioneer Library System
Isaac Huffman, Library Director, Mount Vernon City Library

Playful Hands-on STEM Learning in UK Libraries
2019-11-22
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Playful Hands-on STEM Learning in UK Libraries
There is a tremendous need to provide young people with STEM skills for the future, but in what ways are libraries contributing? This FREE webinar will demonstrate a few ideas from across the UK for facilitating playful STEM learning in libraries through afterschool activities and family events. Share your favorite resources for increasing your own skills and for engaging library customers.
Presenter Keliann LaConte is currently based at the University of Edinburgh as a Fulbright Global Scholar to gather perspectives from UK libraries around STEM-related learning and share resources broadly. As a project leader within the STAR Library Network, she has worked with library staff in the U.S. for over a decade to develop STEM activities and facilitate training.

Imagine Your Story… with a STEAM Twist!
2019-11-20
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Imagine Your Story… with a STEAM Twist!
It’s never too early to start thinking about next summer! When designing your programming for the 2020 theme, “Imagine Your Story,” remember to look up at the night sky for inspiration. Join the STAR Net team and Luke Kralik, Organizational Coordinator for CSLP, to learn all about this year’s theme and exciting, hands-on STEAM activities that will help you bring it to life at your library. We’ll discuss programming ideas, useful resources, and tips for engaging your community!

Citizen Science Month (and Beyond!) at Your Library
2019-11-14
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Citizen Science Month (and Beyond!) at Your Library
Citizen science can open up a world of free STEAM learning opportunities for library patrons. From identifying butterflies to measuring light pollution, citizen science offers unique ways to engage every patron and allow them to contribute to the greater scientific community. With welcoming environments and equitable access to resources, libraries can serve as a central hub for citizen science in their communities! The STAR Library Network (STAR Net) is excited to showcase impactful STEAM learning opportunities that put a focus on the Earth, such as citizen science, in 2020.
With support from the National Library of Medicine and based on feedback from the Citizen Science Association’s “Citizen Science Day” working group, SciStarter and Arizona State University are pleased to announce “Citizen Science Month” (April 2020)! Watch this webinar to discover how you can access many free resources to help introduce, shape, or support citizen science in your library.

Lights On Afterschool
2019-10-24
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Celebrating Library-Afterschool Partnerships
Public libraries and afterschool programs share the common goal of providing safe and enriching environments for participating children and engaging families in their communities.
Across the country, 10.2 million kids attend afterschool programs where they have access to a healthy snack or a meal, academic help, and enrichment activities like reading, STEM, and art. Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities.
This year afterschool-library partnerships are continuing to be celebrated as an official theme for Lights On Afterschool! This is a great opportunity to showcase a afterschool or summer program that you run out of your library, highlight a partnership you already have, or begin a new partnership with an afterschool program for the first time for a Lights On Afterschool event, October 24.

Ready, Set, Create! How Engineers and Libraries Can Collaborate to Make a World of Difference
2019-10-01
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Ready, Set, Create! How Engineers and Libraries Can Collaborate to Make a World of Difference
From the sidewalks that we walk on to the buildings that we work in, engineering is all around us. Libraries are a wonderful place for patrons to learn about engineering due to their inclusive nature, inquisitive staff, and informal atmosphere. Join the STAR Library Network as we go over resources, hands-on activities, and lessons-learned from Project BUILD, a collaborative project between STAR Net, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the University of Virginia (UVA).
Project BUILD engages youth, their families, librarians, and professional engineers in an informal learning environment with age-appropriate, technology-rich STEM learning experiences fundamental to the Engineering Design Process. We’ll hear from both librarians and engineers that were involved in the project, and learn how they were able to work together to show library patrons that engineering. We’ll discuss how we implemented this project on a nation-wide scale while simultaneously staying regionally relevant, and how library patrons learned that failure is OK – and encouraged! – when using the Engineering Design Process.

Computational Thinking in Your Library - Day 2
2019-08-28
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Computational Thinking in Your Library
What do you think of when you hear the term, “Computational Thinking?” It’s more than just working with computers! Computational Thinking is a mindset and a way of approaching critical thinking that can be used to solve problems across every aspect of our lives. In this modern age, it is more and more important for all community members to develop these pivotal thinking skills – that’s where libraries come in!
In our 2019-2020 STAR Net Webinar Series Kick-off, we’ll be taking a look at Computational Thinking and ways that libraries can integrate this concept into their STEM programming. On Day 1, we’ll be taking a look at Computational Thinking concepts and low-cost, low-material activities that do not require a computer. On Day 2, we’ll be joined by Eric Stroshane, Library Development Manager for the North Dakota State Library, to discuss ways to start coding clubs and showcase digital resources for high quality activities. Both webinars will feature a guest speaker, Tai Hutchinson, Manager of Community Partnerships & Outreach, from Girls Who Code.

Computational Thinking in Your Library - Day 1
2019-08-27

NASA In-flight Education Downlink
2019-08-09
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Connecting Kids with Astronauts Through Libraries
Slover Library, one of the most technologically advanced libraries in Virginia, was selected by NASA to host a live In-flight Education Downlink on August 9, 2019 from the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Nick Hague. Note: Nick is replacing Christina and Drew as the participating astronaut for this event.
In the summer of 2019, 16,000 libraries across the country will celebrate space exploration in their summer reading programs. The slogan “A Universe of Stories” was chosen by library professionals to help inspire children of all ages to dream big, believe in themselves, and create their own story. Visit STAR Net’s Summer of Space webpage for resources that can be utilized in your summer learning program.
Note: This downlink event, co-sponsored by the STAR Library Network (STAR Net) and its NASA@ My Library program, will be streamed live nationally so that other public libraries can organize their own viewing event.

2019 Computational Thinking
2019-07-23 - 2019-07-24
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2019 Computational Thinking Workshop
View the above Flikr Photo Gallery for this past event.

50th Anniversary of Apollo Moon Landing
2019-07-20
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Humanity’s First Step Onto Another World
What was the sequence of this incredible mission? Where on the Moon did they land? And how did they return safely to Earth?

Watch a guided recreation (video to your right) of Apollo 11’s journey to see how this mission was executed by crew members and mission control in Houston.
Did your library view the live or recorded webcast? If so, please take a moment to complete the AMNH OpenSpace Audience Survey.
This live OpenSpace webcast was brought to you by the STAR Library Network’s NASA@ My Library program in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
2019-07-15
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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
What was the sequence of this incredible mission? Where on the Moon did they land? And how did they return safely to Earth?
Watch a guided recreation of Apollo 11’s journey to see how this mission was executed by crew members and mission control in Houston.
This live OpenSpace webcast was brought to you by the STAR Library Network’s NASA@ My Library program in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History.

Getting Apollo Astronauts to the Moon and Safely Back to Earth
2019-07-09
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Getting Apollo Astronauts to the Moon and Safely Back to Earth
Note: This webinar is brought to you by NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (Johnson Space Center)
President John Kennedy committed America to landing men on the Moon by 1970 with the words: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.” Mr. Woodfill will share his story of fulfilling the President’s words as the Apollo Program Spacecraft Warning System Engineer to return “him safely to the Earth.” The presentation explains how a young 23 year old Rice University Electrical Engineering graduate was able to not only overcome technical problems that might have led to the crew perishing but also saving Neil Armstrong’s Moonwalk from a catastrophic failure.

Summer of Space
2019-06-01 - 2019-08-31
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Celebrating 60 Years of Space Exploration
In the summer of 2019, 16,000 libraries across the country celebrated space exploration in their summer reading programs. The slogan “A Universe of Stories” was chosen by library professionals to help inspire children of all ages to dream big, believe in themselves, and create their own story. The Collaborative Summer Library Program and STAR Net partnered to share STEM resources with these libraries.
The 2019 summer learning program coincided with NASA’s 60 years of achievement and its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing.

Mars in May
2019-05-02
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Mars in May
With summer right around the corner, this webinar will showcase several hands-on STEM activities about Earth’s red neighbor. Join the STAR Net team to discuss programming ideas, NASA resources, and, of course, fun, hands-on STEM activities that will surely be a crowd-pleaser at your library. We’ll also check in on the progress of NASA’s InSight mission, which was launched in May 2018.

Community Dialogues for Summer and Beyond
2019-04-30
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Community Dialogues for Summer and Beyond
Is your library interested in reaching out to the community to gain new patrons? Or in better understanding the needs of your current (or potential) patrons? Join us to learn more about Community Dialogues, designed by the STAR Net team to help libraries learn more about their patrons, potential community partners, and how to more effectively serve underrepresented audiences. These Dialogues have been conducted more than 150 times at over 90 libraries across the country. Hear results and pitfalls to avoid from the libraries who have conducted them. This webinar is appropriate for any interested library staff, but please also share this announcement with your outreach librarians, directors, or anyone that is interested in reaching out into the community.

Exploring Lunar Phases: How Your Library Can Support Science Learning
2019-04-23
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Exploring Lunar Phases: How Your Library Can Support Science Learning
Please join us to explore lunar phases through hands-on activities and discussion! The moon has held our imaginations captive and sparked our curiosity since prehistoric times. Its changing appearance influences calendars, myths, and cultures around the world. Hear from middle school teachers about the needs and challenges of teaching lunar phases, and discover ways that library programs can help prepare participants in building critical knowledge and skills.

Solar System Scale Activities for “A Universe of Stories”
2019-03-07
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Solar System Scale Activities for “A Universe of Stories”
What’s the most common thing in outer space?…it’s SPACE! Our solar system is enormous, and the size of and distance between the Sun, planets, asteroids, and comets can be difficult to comprehend. With “A Universe of Stories” right around the corner, this webinar will highlight activities that allow patrons to experience the vast distances between objects in the solar system using foods or household objects. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to facilitate these activities; in fact, they’re affordable, simple, and easy for anyone to run!

Libraries Accessing NASA Subject Matter Experts
2019-02-20
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Libraries Accessing NASA Subject Matter Experts
In this webinar, conducted by NASA’s Night Sky Network, librarians from across the U.S. joined NASA@MyLibrary, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors, and the Night Sky Network astronomy clubs to access resources and astronomy enthusiasts in their communities.

Planning a Night Sky Viewing at Your Library
2019-02-20
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Planning a Night Sky Viewing at Your Library
A Night Sky Viewing is a great way to bring local science enthusiasts and library patrons together for an astronomy-based community event. Before your library launches a Night Sky Viewing or Star Party this year, there are a few things to know that can help take your event into orbit! We’ll take a look at the best practices for finding and working with an astronomy club, how to choose the right activities and promotional strategy, and other tips and tricks for keeping everyone warm, happy, and awe-inspired!“Guide on the Side” facilitation can open a new world of STEAM learning opportunities for your library patrons. A Guide on the Side elicits learners’ thoughts, ideas, and conceptions and encourages them to work together to build new understanding or skills for themselves. In this webinar, facilitators from the STAR Library Network will highlight their most recent article in the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Children and Libraries (CAL) journal and give you “Guide on the Side” strategies, resources, and activities to help you engage your audience in STEAM exploration, whether you are conducting in-person or virtual programs. We will also discuss ways to tweak youth, adult, and family programs to be more inclusive for learners of various backgrounds, learning styles, and STEAM capabilities.

Infiniscope and STAR Net: Bringing Teachers and Library Staff Together!
2019-01-23
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Infiniscope and STAR Net: Bringing Teachers and Library Staff Together!
Please join the Space Science Institute and Arizona State University in a special webinar opportunity, featuring Infiniscope. Librarians from the STAR Library Education Network, and librarians, teachers, and other educators from the Infiniscope Network are welcome to join us for this opportunity. Teachers interested in working with libraries can learn more about this summer’s Universe of Stories summer reading theme, and librarians interested in learning more about Infiniscope’s visualizations and learning experiences are welcome to join. Participants will also learn how they can partner with each other for the 2019 Summer Learning event and beyond.

Resource Overview for “A Universe of Stories”
2018-12-18
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Resource Overview for “A Universe of Stories”
Looking for activities, websites, how-to videos, training, and more for the 2019 Summer Reading Theme? Join the STAR Library Network for an overview of vetted, free resources available through NASA, the STAR Library Network, and the STEM Activity Clearinghouse. Presenters will walk you through how to find, access, and sort through – remember, availability doesn’t always equal accessibility! – these resources and offer guidance on how your library can best utilize them!

Bringing “A Universe of Stories” to Your Library
2018-10-23
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Bringing “A Universe of Stories” to Your Library
Summer 2019 may feel like it’s far away, but the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s (CSLP) “Universe of Stories” reading theme will be here quicker than a photon traversing from the Sun to Earth.
“What space-themed programs will I do?”
“How will I partner with community organizations?”
“What if I don’t know anything about space?”
“How do I…STEM?”
If you find yourself asking these questions, then this is the webinar for you! Join the STAR Net team and Luke Kralik, Organizational Coordinator for CSLP, to learn more about the 2019 summer reading theme and ways that you can bring it to life in YOUR library. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to celebrate this out-of-this-world theme!

NASA In-flight Education Downlink
2018-10-18
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Connecting Kids with Astronauts Through Libraries
The High Plains Library District, in collaboration with the Space Science Institute’s STAR Library Network (STAR Net) and its NASA@ My Library initiative, was selected by NASA to host a live In-flight Education Downlink from the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor.
The event will be streamed live nationally so that other public libraries can organize their own viewing event. Learn more!
Date: October 18, 2018 | Time Range: 10:00am-10:20pm MT*
Location: Riverside Library & Cultural Center in Evans, Colorado

Out-of-this-World Engineering
2018-09-26
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Out-of-this-World Engineering
Space isn’t just for scientists – it’s also for engineers! Join STAR Net as we take a look at some of the newest activities on the STEM Activity Clearinghouse that feature engineering design challenges with a space science theme. As we create rockets and rovers, we’ll be following the engineering design process: think, build, test, and do it again. Come and learn how you can make your 2018 and 2019 STEM programs blast off!

Join an International Lunar Celebration
2018-09-06
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Join an International Lunar Celebration
International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is a worldwide, public celebration of lunar science and exploration held annually since 2010. Tens of thousands of people participate each year, from 98 countries and 49 U.S. states (and counting!). On October 20th, your library is invited to join this world-wide celebration by hosting an InOMN event on one day each year to look at and learn about our Moon together.
Join the STAR Net team and Vivian White of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) and NASA’s Night Sky Network (NSN) to learn about how you can make the best of this annual event through hands-on activities, subject matter experts, NASA resources, and more!

2018 Discover Exoplanets
2018-08-29 - 2018-08-30
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2018 Discover Exoplanets Workshop
View the above Flikr Photo Gallery for this past event.
Visit the Discover Exoplanets page for more info on this project.

How Your Library Can Celebrate “Lights On Afterschool
2018-08-16
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How Your Library Can Celebrate “Lights on Afterschool
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement, and on October 25th more than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool rallies will be held across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, attracting more than 1 million Americans and garnering media coverage nationwide. Join us for this webinar to learn more about Lights On Afterschool, and how your library can participate.

Parker Solar Probe
2018-08-12
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Humanity’s First Mission to Touch the Sun
NASA’s historic Parker Solar Probe mission will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar system, affecting Earth and other worlds. This probe will travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions — and ultimately providing humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.

A Universe of NASA Resources
2018-06-16
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A Universe of NASA Resources
Please join us as representatives from NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Telescope Science Institute and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific share resources from their organizations that are easy to use and highly relevant for a library audience. These include everything from 3D printable moon-scapes, to how to get a NASA expert to your library! Get a head start on Summer Reading 2019 programming with this broad overview of NASA resources, and let us know after the webinar who you’d like to hear more from!
