Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Two solar eclipses are coming to North America – an Annular Eclipse in October 2023 and a Total Solar Eclipse in April 2024 – and it’s time for public library staff to get ready!
Thanks to a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and a supplement to the NASA @ My Library project, the Space Science Institute’s STARNET team is providing solar science in-person training workshops in Wisconsin this fall.
The in-person workshops will prepare and empower public library staff to facilitate meaningful solar and space science programs for their patrons that build curiosity, knowledge, and inspiration. Attendees will receive hands-on training on operating solar telescopes and other methods for direct and indirect solar viewing, best practices for developing and facilitating STEM programs, and how to engage with community partners and library-specific digital resource networks. Attendees will also be able to sign up for free solar eclipse glasses to distribute to their communities in advance of both eclipses! These workshops will use materials from the circulation kits (one designed for younger audiences and the other designed for multi-generational audiences) and will highlight best practices in using those materials but the strategies, activities, and resources shared during the workshop will be useful to attendees whether they have access to a circulation kit or not.
Libraries will be able to reserve one of four circulating kits to use for programming. More details on how to do this will be coming soon.
The workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be provided for participants. Please register for ONE WORKSHOP ONLY using one of the registration links below.
- L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire on Tuesday, September 19th
- Fond du Lac Public Library in Fond du Lac on Wednesday, September 20th
Library staff serving all ages are encouraged to attend. The workshops are limited to 35 participants each so be sure to sign up right away.