Picturing Space

With all this talk about the space flight, our solar system and constellations this summer, we certainly shouldn't forget to capture on digital 'film' all of those libraries who have invested considerable amount of energy, accu-cuts and mylar to decorate your library's stellar Youth Services Areas. We want to see them! Between now and Wednesday July 15th, send me your best four(4) library photos that capture the spirit of our 2009 Children's and/or YA themes. Whether it's your Youth Services area or your Kick-off parties send your digital photos in via email.

Those who enter will be entered into our raffle for a chance to win an '16 inch inflatable Earth Globe from the Space Store that features glow-in- the-dark cities from around the world that depict Earth at night. In your email, please include your contact information and the name of your library and where your photo was taken if off-site. Judges will be members of SEMLS office staff who will notify the contest winner by Tuesday, July 21st at 1:00 p.m. Photos will be presented on the SEMLS flickr page for the world and our traveling Martian to see.

Don't blink or else you might miss it!

Quietly last week, a few of the banner ads of our Starship Adventure began showing up online in the Boston Moms section of Boston.com, the front page of the Berkshire Eagle, and the New Bedford Standard Times. These eye-catching rotating banner ads will invite readers to visit the Mass.gov pages which feature our attractive MBLC page listing events in libraries throughout the state. Also starting this week will be radio ads on stations WCTK 98.1 FM (Cape) and WBRK 1340 AM(Pittsfield) promoting our 2009 program. So keep your eyes glued and your ears unplugged to catch the ‘publicity comets’. Patrons will be able to view them by chance if they should visit either of these sites throughout the summer months. And when they do, be ready to watch the stardust fly as kids and parents land at your building or fly by online.

Space Movies

I forgot about The Last Starfighter and Snow Buddies

Space movies

Fly Me to the Moon is not covered by the movie license from movielicense.com. I personally have written to them to ask for permission. I have not had an answer yet.

These others either come with permission or permission is easily obtained.
Why Dragonfly, What's Up with the Moon (available on amazon) They give permission to show readily

Reading Rainbow Magic Schoolbus Gets Lost in Space (Comes with performance rights)

Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants (Came with performance rights)

Reading Rainbow Magic Schoolbus: Space Adventures: Out of this world (Comes with performance rights)

Reading Rainbow Alistair in Outer Space (Comes with performance rights)

Reading Rainbow Space Case (Comes with performance rights)

Aurora Explained available on Amazon used as VHS. University of Alaska gives permission easily. Their web site says, they still sell them but they don't. They also have great video stuff online.

Check out online the Science Channel's Space School. They have great photographic short videos of various space objects
like the Milky Way, the planets, the galaxies. If you have a digital projector you could show them on a screen or wall or you could set the children's computer stations up with bookmarks.

Space buddies (covered by movielicense.com license)

The Eagle Has Landed!

Wow. That was fast! In April I attended a workshop...in May I applied for the loan...in June I received my high-security item. Yes, the Lunar Samples from NASA's Goddard Space Center(Maryland) arrived for me today. Yes folks...SUMMER IS HERE!

Quite honestly I didn't think it would arrive THIS early but fortunately I talked with my Bank weeks ago to reserve a box for secure storage, so I was prepared for its arrival. Yet I'm extremely excited that along with the actual sample is a 3-ring binder full of information and activities. I haven't even gone through the binder but if you are at loss of ideas on how to present the Lunar Sample to your patrons, you won't be after reviewing the contents.

I'm not sure if any of you who have requested your 'little slice of history' has arrived yet but if it has send us your photos. Initially I had planned to place a photo of its contents on this blog, but I think I'll let you experience what I experienced when I opened the big brown box with its silver case and bubble wrap. Oops, I said too much already. Let me head off to the security box before I say anything else.


Special Agent Librarian 432
Signing off now

Things are just falling out of the sky!

Did you hear the news about our Bruins partnership? Woo hoo! I know it was a surprise for us too when we heard that the Bruins contacted the MBLC a few weeks ago about joining with the library to promote reading. But we're really not THAT surprised that someone of that stature would reach out to our little old library. LIBRARIES ROCK-- both on our planet and in space! This year's pilot program will encourage kids and families to participate via the ReadsinMa.org. In a few days, I will contact you with more information on the partnership as soon as we are closer to finalizing the press kit. Whew...this partnership is happening as quickly as a Haley's Comet!

And speaking of comets and other rock-like matter, I've received news that a few library lunar requests have been confirmed. Yeah! If your request has been confirmed why not share it on our Google calendar as a few libraries have done? You're get to see who has requested or decide whether you want to team with a nearby to share this NASA resource. If you're interested, you'll need to first create a Google account if you don't have one already. Once you've created an Google account, you can email me and I'll send you an invitation to be a part of this private calendar. I've added mine already--June 18th for the Stoughton Public Library training.

We are certified lunatics!

As of today twenty-eight(28) librarians and teachers were certified to handle and borrow the lunar/metorite rock samples from NASA's Goddard Space Center in Bethesda Maryland just in time for our summer programs. Rick Varner, an Aerospace Education Specialist from NASA, offered simple and fun activities for kids aged 7+, the history of space flight, along with providing online resources from his Portaportal.com page to supplement the fabulous handouts that were given to us.
If I had to rate any portion of the time spent with Rick last Friday, each section would easily been awarded 5 stars. In this short three-hour but information-filled workshop, 28 participants now have the opportunity to team up with other educational institutions, i.e. churches, after-school agencies or other schools and public libraries to present to kids and families the history of manned space flight and the geology of our galaxy. AMAZING!

And what is even more amazing is Mr. Varner's willingness to come back to the SEMLS region in June--June 18th to be exact--to offer a program geared to our teacher librarians. The extended version of the April 24th workshop will include more time for extra hands-on activities for registered attendees. If previous attendances couldn't get enough of the hands-on activities from the April 24th workshop, you are more than welcome to join us for the June 18th workshop. In fact, if you can't make the Thursday, June 18th workshop, five other regions across the state will host Rick's visit that same week.

Tuesday, June 16th (Western Region Conference Room)
Wednesday, June 17th Tewksbury Public (NMRLS & CMRLS Region combined)
Friday June 19th at Boston Children's Museum (Boston Region)

You have 3 other opportunities to become certified and participate in the fun outside of the SEMLS June 18th workshop. Registration for this workshop will begin on Friday May 1st so check the CE calendar to secure your space. In the meantime, you'll welcome to tour the actual facility where these samples are stored before they reach your library.