STAR Library Network

STEM Events for Your Library’s 2018 Programming
2017-12-13
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STEM Events for Your Library’s 2018 Programming
From Engineers Week to the launch of the NASA’s InSight Mars Lander, 2018 has an abundance of high-profile events that could tie into your library’s programming… and the time to start planning is now! Join the STAR Net team as we provide background information on 2018’s high-profile STEM events and unique ideas and helpful resources for integrating them into your programming schedule. Bring your questions and programming ideas to the chat box, too – we want to hear what your library is planning and what has worked successfully in the past. 2018 is the year that #STEMinLib really blasts off!

Discover Exoplanets Pre-Application Webinar
2017-12-06
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Discover Exoplanets Pre-Application Webinar
Join us to learn more about the application process for being one of eight library and museum partner sites to host the inaugural national tour of the interactive traveling exhibition Discover Exoplanets: the Search for Alien Earths.

Social Media Tips from NASA
2017-11-15
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Social Media Tips from NASA
Social media can provide your library with a world of opportunity when it comes to promoting programs and disseminating information; yet, to many STEM professionals and library staff, social media is a daunting challenge. What kind of language should you use when creating a post? How do you find the best images and videos to share? What is the most effective way of delivering high quality scientific content? What platform is right for your library’s needs?
STAR Net is thrilled to host Jason Townsend, NASA’s Deputy Social Media Manager, for our upcoming webinar: Social Media Tips from NASA. Jason will pilot you through the universe of social media and share tips, advice, and lessons that he has learned from his experience directing some of the most-followed Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts in the world. While your library’s Twitter account may not have 26.5 million followers, you will surely learn a few tips to help your library’s social media presence blast off!

Hands-on Fun with STAR Net!
2017-11-08
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Hands-on Fun with STAR Net!
Hunting for activities for your library’s next STEM program? Look no further! Hands-on Fun with STAR Net will highlight several different hands-on activities from the STEM Activity Clearinghouse that were designed with the library setting in mind. Whether you are new to STEM programming or are already a “STEM Superstar”, we hope you will join us for tips, techniques, and loads of fun!

International Observe The Moon Night
2017-10-04
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International Observe The Moon Night
International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is a worldwide, public celebration of lunar science and exploration held annually since 2010. On October 28, 2017, everyone on Earth is invited to observe and learn about the moon together, and to celebrate the cultural and personal connections we all have with Earth’s nearest neighbor. Want to learn more about this event and ways that your library can participate?
Join STAR_Net and Brian Day, NASA’s Lead for Citizen Science and Community Development at the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, to learn more about this exciting international event and ways to integrate it into your library’s programming!

Out-of-This-World Activities
2017-09-13
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Out-of-This-World Activities
Join STAR_Net and the Lunar and Planetary Institute to learn tips and tricks from LPI’s Explore program for engaging children, tweens, and families in space science with games, activities, and events.

Celebrate Afterschool Partnerships with the 18th Annual “Lights On Afterschool!”
2017-09-09
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Celebrate Afterschool Partnerships with the 18th Annual “Lights On Afterschool!”
Libraries and afterschool programs make great partners. Every October, the afterschool field celebrates the important role these programs have in the lives of children, families, and communities. This year, on October 26, we want to make the celebration bigger and better than ever. Library-afterschool partnerships are an official theme of this year’s event—and we want to highlight the many ways libraries and afterschool programs are pairing up to provide engaging learning opportunities and critical supports to children and families across the country. Join us for this webinar to learn more about Lights On Afterschool, and how your library can participate.

Cassini: The Grand Finale
2017-08-30
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Cassini: The Grand Finale
Join the STAR_Net team and Colin Mitchell, a Space Science Institute researcher on the Cassini mission, to learn more about Cassini’s Grand Finale and ways to integrate this event into your programming.

2017 Solar Eclipse
2017-08-21
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The Celestial Event of the Century
On August 21, 2017, a spectacular total eclipse of the Sun was visible across the continental U.S. for the first time since 1918. Every state had at least 65% of the Sun covered by the Moon, and lucky people on a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina saw the stunning beauty of totality that they will remember all their lives.
By the Numbers
It is estimated that the STAR Net Library Eclipse Project allowed 6 million people to observe the event safely. Participating libraries were estimated to have conducted around 35,000 science programs before and during the eclipse, reaching approximately 1,750,000 people.

Safe Eclipse Viewing
2017-08-02
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Safe Eclipse Viewing
Join NCIL Staff and Doug Duncan, Director of the Fiske Planetarium at UC Boulder, to learn about ways to safely view the 2017 Great American Eclipse.
Note: Please be advised that there is a very small amount of adult language in one of the videos shared during the webinar (at the 34:00 mark). The language is from the reaction of people viewing a total eclipse for the first time. While it is important to show their genuine reaction to this amazing event, the language may not be suitable for children.

Eclipse Cultural Connections
2017-07-12
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Eclipse Cultural Connections
Join Isabel Hawkins, astronomer and educator with the Exploratorium of San Francisco, CA, to learn about cultural connections for the 2017 Great American Eclipse.

NASA Partnerships in Your Own Backyard
2017-06-07
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NASA Partnerships in Your Own Backyard
Join us to learn more about two NASA supported volunteer networks who are eager to partner with local public libraries!
The Night Sky Network and Solar System Ambassadors are volunteer organizations who can provide free or low cost programming to libraries in their region. Members of these networks include current and former NASA employees, industry retirees (Ball, Lockheed, etc), science teachers, and other general science enthusiasts! Participants in this webinar will learn more about these networks, hear success stories from existing library partnerships, and even learn how they can join these networks.

Crowd-Pleasing Hands-on Activities for Your Eclipse Programs
2017-04-26
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Crowd-Pleasing Hands-on Activities for Your Eclipse Programs
Learn how to facilitate activities that will have your patrons asking, “Really!?!,” and exclaiming “That’s so cool!”
Sun Cookies are a sure crowd-pleaser — watch this webinar to see how these tasty treats can help young learners explore the Sun. Engage both youth and adults in out-of-this-world explorations of how our small Moon can eclipse the huge Sun. Experiment with integrating technology into your eclipse programs using online games as well as equipment you may already have on hand.

Earth Science for a Better World
2017-04-12
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Earth Science for a Better World
Librarians, camp programmers, and other out-of-school time facilitators are invited to join STAR_Net and the Lunar and Planetary Institute for two free professional development webinars on the STAR_Net Earth science activities.
Earth Science for a Better World, Part 1
Looking for fun activities related to your local environment? This 30-minute session will model and include discussions of these activities:

Fastest Dresser (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/FastestDresser.pdf)
Race to dress in clothing and gear appropriate for a specific type of weather.
Nurturing Life (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/NurturingLife.pdf)
Explore what living things need to survive and thrive by creating and caring for a garden.
Recipe for a Region (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/RecipeForARegion.pdf)
Discuss how your climate influences the local agriculture, then identify a type of food unique to the region and select (and possibly make) a recipe that features that ingredient.

Earth Science for a Better World, Part 2
This 45-minute session will explore our watery world and changing climate with the following activities. Participants will discuss various options for implementation, and share ideas in how to best conduct these programs.

Catch the World’s Ocean (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/CatchWorldsOceans.pdf)
Toss a soft Earth globe and record how often your thumb is on land or on ocean.
Ice-Y Experiences (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/collections/DiscoverEarth/Ice-yExperiences.pdf)
Play “Ice Bingo” by finding other participants who have had the icy experiences matching those on the game cards.
Polar Bears Go with the Floes (http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/index.php?id_product=24&controller=product):
Play a board game in which chance and choice determine the fate of a polar bear on an ice floe.

Celebrate Earth Day with NASA’s GLOBE Observer
2017-03-08
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Celebrate Earth Day with NASA’s GLOBE Observer
Learn how your library can celebrate our planet on Earth Day and beyond through NASA’s GLOBE Observer (GO) citizen science project. Library patrons can contribute to NASA Earth science by downloading the free GO app, observing the sky, and contributing their observations to this international program. GO cloud observations are helping NASA scientists understand clouds from below (the ground) and above (from space). Clouds play an important role in transferring energy from the Sun to different parts of the Earth system. Because clouds can change rapidly, scientists need frequent observations from citizen scientists.
In this interactive webinar, library staff will meet with a NASA scientist, Jessica Taylor, and educators, Sarah McCrea and Dorian Janney, to learn:

Why observing clouds and sky conditions is important to NASA
How NASA’s GLOBE Observer citizen science observations contribute to NASA science
How to do sky observations with the easy-to-use GLOBE Observer app: identify satellite overpass times, photograph clouds, record sky observations and compare them with NASA satellite images
What resources are available to support library programming on Earth Day 2017 and beyond

Playful Building
2017-03-01
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Playful Building
Librarians, camp programmers, and other out-of-school time facilitators are invited to join STAR_Net and the Lunar and Planetary Institute for two free professional development webinars on the Playful Building activities. Watch one or both webinars and receive connection information & directions to help you better participate in the activities during the webinar(s).
Playful Building: Simple Machines
This 30 minute webinar will model Team Machine, Water Wedges, and Levers at Play, as examples of simple machines that the children can plan, design, test, and revise. Elements of the engineering design process will be explored in each.
Playful Building: Design Challenges
This 60 minute webinar will explore the engineering design process through open-ended activities to design a park, a water filter, and a wind turbine. Participants will discuss various options for implementation, and share ideas in how to best conduct these programs

Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA
2017-02-15
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Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA
NASA’s Universe of Learning astronomy education program is celebrating National Women’s History Month with the Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA project, which partners libraries with NASA scientists and educators to empower girls and their families in STEM! During the webinar, we will introduce Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA, discuss how to build girl-engagement into your programming, and demonstrate hands-on coding activity that uses real astronomical observations in the ways real astronomers do. We’ll also connect you to a suite of support materials, such as exhibits, activities, and even some posters inspired by the women depicted in new film Hidden Figures!

Eclipse 2017: The Outreach Event of the Decade
2017-01-25
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Eclipse 2017: The Outreach Event of the Decade
Join us for exciting updates to our last eclipse webinar in October. This webinar will repeat some of the information provided previously, plus offer eclipse programming and partner suggestions. In addition, you will learn more about the enhanced opportunities to participate made available by our new Moore Foundation funding.

Dream Big to Build a Better World
2016-12-14
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Dream Big to Build a Better World
Engineers use their skills to solve problems and make the world a better place. Join Jeannine Finton from the American Society of Civil Engineers as she shares a variety of hands-on engineering resources, activities, presentation tips and techniques designed to make engineering fun for all ages. Find out how to connect with local engineers who may be able to assist with a program.

Is Your Library Ready for the Astronomical Event of the Decade?
2016-10-19
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Is Your Library Ready for the Astronomical Event of the Decade?
On August 21, 2017, we will be treated to the first total eclipse of the Sun visible in the continental U.S. in almost 40 years. The spectacular total eclipse will only be visible in a narrow band about 60 miles across, stretching diagonally across the country from a beach in Oregon to a beach in South Carolina. However, everyone in North America will see a partial solar eclipse, where a big “bite” will be taken out of the Sun.
This will be the first major U.S. eclipse of the Internet age, and most people will need clear reliable information on when and how to observe the eclipse of the Sun safely. Astronomers are hoping libraries will play a key role in getting this information out to their communities. Working with astronomy groups in their communities, they could also be a central place for safe observing.
Get an early start in preparing for this eclipse, how to explain it, how to observe it safely, and what role libraries can play in organizing and informing their communities.
Join us for a 45 minute webinar where you’ll get great information about the eclipse, and be able to ask questions about the role your library can play. Hosts: Dennis Schatz (NSTA, Pacific Science Center), and Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College; co-author of a new book on eclipse education). Click here for an Eclipse FAQ sheet.

STAR Net Resources for your Library
2016-09-21
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STAR Net Resources for your Library
Join Anne Holland (Community Engagement Manager at the Space Science Institute) for a “Grand Opening” of the two new websites. You’ll receive a tour of the new features and resources (available at www.starnetlibraries.org and www.clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org) as well as have an opportunity to suggest new features and content. You’ll also receive information on how to register your library for the 2017 Solar Eclipse, and get some free swag!

Lights On Afterschool: Join the Nationwide Celebration!
2016-07-27
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Lights On Afterschool: Join the Nationwide Celebration!
Does your library offer afterschool programming? Interested in working more closely with afterschool programs and other youth-serving organizations? Join the Afterschool Alliance to learn more about Lights On Afterschool, the nationwide celebration of afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The event has become a hallmark of the afterschool field, every year generating significant media coverage across the country and sending a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. In this webinar, we’ll also talk about the potential that other coordinated national advocacy efforts might have for the library field.
