NASA @ My Library

The Library of Michigan is a member of NASA @ My Library, a nationwide science-technology initiative launched in 2018.  The Library of Michigan will receive resources, training and support through NASA @ My Library, a STEM education initiative that will increase and enhance STEM learning
opportunities for library patrons throughout the nation, including geographic areas and populations currently underserved in STEM education. 

The project is led by the National Center for Interactive learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, 
the Pacific Science Center, Cornerstones of Science and the Education Development Center.  
Additional support for this project comes from NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
and made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
For more information about the program visit https://www.starnetlibraries.org/portfolio-items/nasa-my-library/.

What's New

• NASA @ My Library Kits are back in circulation - 10/4/2021!
• NASA in your Neighborhood - getting space science volunteers into your library
  RECORDING is now available
  You are invited to participate in a free Zoom session to learn how to get Earth and space science volunteers to come to your library.  NASA@ My Library is a national Earth and space science initiative that connects NASA, public libraries and their communities.  Night Sky Network and the Solar System Ambassadors will describe how you can find and engage some terrific volunteers to come to your library to work with library staff and patrons on Earth and space science programs. Please take a moment to register online for this professional development opportunity by clicking on this link. (If you are unable to attend this webinar we will provide an archived version.)
   
  • NASA's Night Sky Network (NSN) is a nationwide coalition of amateur astronomy clubs bringing science, technology, and inspiration of NASA's missions to the general public.  Go to bit.ly/FindNSN to find a NSN club near you for possible collaborations!
     
  • NASA's Solar System Ambassadors (SSA) is a program of volunteers that shares the latest in NASA's science and discoveries of their space exploration missions through events in their communities. For the SSA Directory for volunteers in your area go to: solarsystem.nasa.gov/ssa. 
     
• "Unpacking" videos now available from Cornerstones of Science for our N@ML kits:  Sun-Earth-Moon Connections and Be a NASA Detective. Also available is a short video on How-to Use the Funscope Telescope, that comes in the Detective kit!
   
• Library of Michigan's NASA @ My Library Report - December, 2018
   
• Library of Michigan announces NASA @ My Library project. 

Who is eligible?

This project is open to all public libraries in Michigan and designed to increase and enhance STEM learning opportunities for library patrons throughout the state and especially aimed at geographical areas and populations currently underserved in STEM education.  

NASA @ My Library Program Facilitation Kits

Kit 1 (4 copies) - "Sun Earth Moon Connections" 

Kit 1 focuses on activities and experiences that better help patrons understand their place in space, and how the Sun and Moon impact our planet. Major content areas in this kit include: modeling both lunar and solar eclipses with easy to use tools, detecting ultraviolet light in a creative way, using sorting cards to explore concepts relating to size, distance, and temperature, and an experiential activity that allows for a greater understanding of the vast scale of our Solar System.

Patrons Will Be Able To:

• Model both lunar and solar eclipses with easy-to-use tools
• Detect ultraviolet light in a creative way
• Use sorting cards to explore concepts relating to size, distance, and temperature
• Create a scale-size model of the Solar System
• Safely view the Sun with Sunoculars

Activities: 

Modeling Meaningful Eclipses (Link to PDF)
Using simple materials, participants create 3D models of the Earth, Moon and Sun and demonstrate solar and lunar eclipses. This method uses 3 steps that allow learners to engage, explore, and make meaning.

UV Kid! 
In this activity, children use common craft materials and ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive beads to construct a person (or dog or imaginary creature). They use sunscreen, foil, paper, and more to test materials that might protect UV Kid from being exposed to too much UV radiation. Includes background for facilitators. This activity is part of the "Explore!" series of activities designed to engage children in space and planetary science in libraries and informal learning environments.

Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot? 
In How Big? How Far? How Hot? library staff facilitate these sorting activities in large or small groups, with patrons from Pre-K to adult. These simple and engaging activities introduce younger patrons to concepts such as size, distance, and temperature, and allow older patrons to explore these concepts further. They are excellent engagement activities for learners to begin thinking about our place in space.

Jump to Jupiter 
Participants jump through a course from the grapefruit-sized "Sun," past poppy-seed-sized "Earth," and on to marble-sized "Jupiter" - and beyond!

Kit Science Tools:

• UV Flashlights
• Sunoculars

Public library staff can access the Sun-Earth-Moon Connection Kit survey at: https://go.edc.org/Kit1Survey. 

Kit 2 (2 copies) - "Be A NASA Detective" includes:

Kit 2 focuses on activities and experiences that help patrons be more comfortable using tools of science, and making predications based on their observations. This kit focuses on things we cannot see with our normal vision on sense with our normal senses.

Patrons will Be Able to:

• Model the vast distances in our Solar System using a fun paper folding activity
• ?Create the shapes of the Moon's phases with some "tasty" resources
• Explore art as science and science as art through planetary images
• Investigate the insides of planets using hands-on objects and detecting tools
• Using scientific tools such as a telescope and infrared thermometer to observe properties of objects that are difficult to see with our eyes

Activities:

Planet Party
Visitors view planets, the Moon, and stars in the sky with the naked eye and binoculars or telescopes. Planning resources and tips for partnering with a local astronomical society are provided.

Pocket Solar System
Using a strip of paper, patrons construct a quick scale model of the distances between the objects of our solar system.

Art and the Cosmic Connection
Using NASA imagery, participants use images as inspiration for artwork while learning about geology of planetary bodies and moons

Investigating the Insides
Investigate the composition of unseen materials, using a variety of tools, as an analogy to how scientists discover clues about the interiors of planets using spacecraft.

Taking the Earth's Temperature
Participants are introduced to a type of energy, infrared radiation, which we can't see with our eyes but we can feel as heat. Then, they explore their outdoor environment using an infrared thermometer (also known as an IR thermometer) to measure the temperatures of concrete, asphalt, grass, and bare soil.

Kit Science tools:

• Telescope
•  Binoculars
•  Infrared Thermometer
•  Planisphere
•  Magnetic Science Kit

Public library staff can access the Be A NASA Detective survey at: https://go.edc.org/Kit2Survey. 

To Reserve a Kit: 

1) Reserve a kit via KitKeeper

2) Schedule and advertise programs for the public during the period your library has reserved the kit.

3) Return kit to the Library of Michigan on time so the next library can receive it for their programming and complete the required survey.

For more information on the NASA@ My Library project in Michigan, please contact Cathy Lancaster, Youth Services Coordinator at the Library of Michigan, 517-335-8129 or at LancasterC5@Michigan.gov.

Updated 10/04/2021