The Indiana State Library was excited to be chosen to participate in the NASA@MyLibrary project in 2019. Through this program, the State Library received 2 different STEM kits to circulate among public libraries in Indiana. One kit is “Sun-Earth-Moon Connections” and the other kit is “Be a NASA Detective: Expanding Your Senses”.
Each kit contains books, science tools and STEM activities related to the topic. The purpose of this project is to promote STEM activities for under-served and under-represented populations. Find additional astronomy resources HERE.
Follow these links for more information about the kits including activity ideas:
In 2023, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation awarded grant funds to the Space Science Institute’s STARnet program to create the program SEAL: Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries in preparation for the solar eclipses happening in October 2023 and April 2024.
The SEAL program has provided two different kits to state libraries:
- Solar Telescope & More kit contents (originally called “Multi-generational
Programming Kit” by SEAL) – Please note that only one of these kits is currently available for circulation. - Solar Eclipse Activities kit contents (originally called “Younger Audience Kits” by SEAL) – Please note that these kits are currently unavailable for circulation.
The Indiana State Library received two of each type of kit. The eclipse kits will utilize the same borrowing guidelines as the NASA@ My Library kits, and those guidelines can be found below.
For resources about the eclipse, including help with using the above eclipse kits and general programming ideas, please visit the Eclipse Resources webpage.
How to Reserve a NASA@ My Library Kit or STARnet SEAL Eclipse Kit:
Kit Borrowing Guidelines
Circulation Information:
- NASA@ My Library & SEAL Eclipse Kits check out for 30 days.
- Limit of one (1) kit per library system at a given time.
- Please, no back-to-back reservations of the same kit.
- Renewals are not available.
- Please plan your program carefully to coincide with your reservation.
- Please, do not reserve the kit unless you plan to use it in a program; if you want to know what is in a kit, you can view the contents on our website (see links above).
- Kits are primarily meant for public library use in staff training or public programming. They are not to be loaned out to patrons.
Shipment of Kits: All Indiana State Library kits are shipped via the INfoExpress courier system. If your public library is not part of this service, please work with the closest public library who does use INfoExpress to book your kits. Kits can only be used in Indiana.
Schools: Due to the parameters of the NASA@ My Library project, school libraries are not eligible to borrow the NASA kits.
Reserving Kits: NASA@ My Library & SEAL Eclipse kits can be reserved here.
If you have questions or encounter any issues reserving a kit, please contact Kara Cleveland (kcleveland@library.in.gov) or Beth Yates (byates@library.in.gov).
NASA@ My Library is a national STAR Library Network (STAR Net) initiative that connects NASA, public libraries, state libraries, and their communities. Together we are working to increase STEM learning opportunities for millions of library patrons nationwide, particularly those under-served in STEM education.
NASA@ My Library is based upon work funded by NASA under cooperative agreement No. NNX16AE30A. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the NASA@ My Library initiative and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
