Cornerstones of Science

Maybe one of the only great things about COVID-19 is that it’s requiring all of us to think anew and to adapt to new ways of working. This means that if we were in a rut thinking of our jobs and our libraries in only one dimension, then we are now liberated to imagine something totally new.

Cornerstones wants to hear about how you are adapting to the world of COVID-19. How are you doing? Are you innovating and pivoting? Have you been inspired by something you’ve seen from a staff member in your library or in another library? Have you run into a few recognitions of what NOT to do?

We’ve been inspired by what we’re seeing in library communities across the country. There are so many examples of librarian pros innovating:

• In Texas we saw a virtual family rocketry camp and outdoor rocket launches
• Across the US are Take-and-Make activity bags
• Front windows of libraries used as programmatic displays

Whether you’re still swamped with COVID-19 planning, or you’re sitting on your hands because you don’t know what to do, it’s time to start innovating.

The world will never be the same. Doors are closing that won’t reopen. But there are also doors swinging open that you never knew existed. Don’t sit and wait. Be creative. Collaborate. Innovate. Adaptation is key to success and sharing ideas was never more important.

Sharpen Our Pencils Together

As we move through this together, Cornerstones wants to be a resource to you. We are offering free resources to help you advance your skills and value even during a challenging time. We also want to hear what’s on your mind.

Send us 1-2 of your most burning questions, and then join us for a Webinar to discuss our answers together!

Join us and your fellow librarians for the Cornerstones of Science Fall 2020 Webinar Series

Library Innovation and Pivot Activities during COVID-19

September 23, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET

Have you found some interesting ways to work with your community or are you really burnt out from all the new outreach you are doing? Join us for a discussion and to get some inspiration to keep you going through these strange times. You will hear from your fellow librarians and others about ways libraries and librarians have changed their programming, outreach, and daily admin. during COVID-19.

Register for this Zoom webinar here!

Outdoor Activities for your Community

October 21, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET

Getting outside for library and community programs seems like the right place to be right now. Find out about what is happening in the library world around outdoor activities to help bring some joy (and maybe something spooky for Halloween) to your community in a safe way during COVID-19. Bring your ideas and experiences to this discussion too!

Register for this Zoom webinar here!

Finding Your People: Librarians interested in Science

November 18, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET

Come to this webinar to find other librarians who really like science. It is important to find your people in order to stay invigorated and excited (it’s ok to geek out here!). You will be able to share new ideas on how to best facilitate more science in your community and also discuss what works well and what is really challenging.

Register for this Zoom webinar here!

Cornerstones of Science was pleased to collaborate with a supporter of the Susan L. Curtis Foundation to bring a telescope program to Camp Susan Curtis this summer. The “Look Up” program, which was integrated into the Camp’s science and nature classes this summer, utilized six modified Orion StarBlast 4.5 inch telescopes. Camp Susan Curtis is a tuition-free, outdoor, residential learning experience exclusively for Maine boys and girls, ages 8 to 17 whose mission is to ensure that economically disadvantaged Maine youth develop the individual character, self-confidence, and skills essential to becoming independent, contributing citizens.

The summer camp telescope program was scheduled to begin at the opening of camp season in June but was delayed because of COVID-19. However, Camp Susan Curtis Director Terri L Mulks said campers and staff got busy using the telescopes during session two, which began in mid-July.

“The program has been a hit and it’s been fun to see campers making use of these incredible tools for viewing the night sky,” said Mulks, adding that one staff member has astronomy background. In late July, Mulks reported that the camp community enjoyed three consecutive nights of awesome viewing.

“The kids are really enjoying the program and have lots to say about it,” said Mulks. “One camper named Jeff confessed: ‘”I thought this was gonna be a real drag but it’s actually pretty cool. I would spend 4 more hours out here if I could!’”

The telescope project is designed to allow campers and staff the use of the telescopes in the summer months. Then the telescopes will be placed in two Maine schools after the summer ends.

“We are excited to provide a way for young people to be inspired by the wonders of the night sky,” said Sarah Post, Program and Library Support Manager at Cornerstones of Science

The modified Orion StarBlast 4.5 inch Telescope comes complete with a simple instruction book and guides to additional resources (such as books, websites, and most importantly, local astronomers and clubs). Each telescope is modified and upgraded to help assure a positive user experience.

What campers said about the telescope program:

• “Wait, that star is actually a planet!?” – Chad
• “This will be my best memory of camp.” – Linwood
• “I got to see the moon up close for the first time.” – Ayden
• “I’ve always been so interested in space. There is so much out there to see!” – Delaney

COVID-19 has changed everything about the way we work and interact, but one thing is certain, public libraries have shown enormous resiliency and ability to transform themselves in the COVID era. Following is a short Q&A with Cornerstones of Science Executive Director Cynthia Randall and Program and Library Support Manager Sarah Post, which reveals some great COVID adaptations and why there’s room for optimism.

What has transformed since March?

Cindy: In the time of COVID, science kits and telescopes are all products that will mostly continue to sit on the shelves while libraries remain closed or have minimal circulation activities. We have found a way to transform these science kits and telescopes to an inventory of STEM enrichment activities, called Rev Up The Fun, that library staff and other community organizations like food distribution sites, can easily hand out to their customers. Families can explore health, energy and space themes from the safety of their homes. Check out revupthefun.org!

Campers at Camp Susan Curtis with a Cornerstones telescope

Sarah: Because of COVID-19, The NASA@ My Library Patron Interest Project (PEP) had to quickly pivot from being an in-library research project to an online format. Then, we pivoted again – with Take-and-Make bags – to align with summer reading and night sky content. We’re also working on corresponding video and journal articles based on the previous year’s data, when libraries were open, that focuses on best practices for increasing patron interest in the library setting. We also worked on a Light Pollution science kit for the National Institute of Health, with an emphasis of making it accessible for low-sited and blind individuals.

What do you feel have been the biggest COVID impacts on libraries?

Cindy: I see two big impacts: 1) library staff livelihoods and 2) lack of access to critical library services. COVID, has put an economic strain on funding jeopardizing library jobs. As the pandemic continues, these jobs continue to be threatened. Secondly, lack of public access to the library resources, computers, books and others services that certain populations depend on further isolates them from critical information, social contact and tools they need as part of their daily lives.

Sarah: Having the libraries closed to the public has impacted how libraries function in every way. Librarians have had to quickly change how they do their jobs and reach out to their communities because even though many libraries are closed or partially closed, many libraries are still working and trying to offer programming to patrons. Uncertainty has impacted libraries the most, which is both good and bad. Just like in the NASA@ My Library project, libraries are having to pivot multiple times to find what works best.

What’s an example of a great adaptation you have seen as a result of COVID?

Cindy: Public libraries are amazing in their resiliency and ability to transform to where the need is great, informing the public, and adapting services and programming to meet changing community needs such as: online story time, setting up food distribution sites, and even 3D printing tools to help the frontline health workers.

Sarah: Based on my observations, the sheer number of online librarian discussion groups have provided librarians support through peers to share ideas, frustrations, successes and challenges. I see librarians from all over the world contributing to these discussions and supporting one another. I can’t think of anything more important right now than finding ways to feel supported in these times.

Lydia Collins, Participant Engagement Lead NNLM All of Us, Training and Education Center, as a co-presenter

Executive Director, Cornerstones of Science Cynthia Randall along with Dr. Laura Bartlett, researcher from the National Institutes of Health, and Lydia Collins, Participant Engagement Lead NNLM All of Us, Training and Education Center, gave a presentation entitled Hear and See Your Audience: Intentional Program and Resource Design and Delivery, on June 12, 2020.

The goal of the presentation was to shift the discourse about accessibility from the way most people think about it—as something that’s done to accommodate people with disabilities—to redefining design itself in a way that intends to accommodate everyone.

The presentation focused on universal strategies for intentionally designing and re-designing library programs and resources for the hearing and visually impaired as well as the general public.

The presentation explored considerations for designing and serving a variety of audiences; ways to refine your design to accommodate a broader number of users; and a tool to help library staff assess the level of accessibility of existing programs and resources.  You can download a copy of the presentation’s slide deck right here.

Ultimately, the question is: Why wouldn’t we try and strive to accommodate as many as possible?

Each month, the NASA@My Library project team leader (Space Science Institute) uploads slides on a specific piece of the project (called a “nugget”) to NASA. NASA then looks at each of the slides from over 27 Sci-Act Group CAN projects and chooses one to send up to the White House to highlight. For the month of March, NASA selected the NASA@My Library Patron Experience Pilot (PEP) slides to go to the White House.

You can see our presentation at NASA Science’s Nugget page – just scroll down to March.

This part of the NASA@My Library project is a small research project led by Cornerstones of Science and a researcher from Northern Illinois University (NIU) that looks at building patron interests in Earth and space science through a library setting. In February, Cornerstones of Science Program Manager, Sarah Post, and NIU researcher Dr. Amanda Durik conducted a two-day training for librarians from three libraries to help test the second year of the PEP model. These libraries learned about and received a specific freestanding display that they set up in their library and update every two weeks to help people realize interests in a specific topic. The display has large attractive images, easy and interesting facts, short reading passages, interactive content, and ways to support patrons with other hands-on activities and events that help build interest.

Participating libraries are the Stephen’s Central Branch of the Tom Green County Library System in San Angelo, TX, the Lawrenceville Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library in Lawrenceville, GA, and the Show Low Public Library in Show Low, AZ.

Cornerstones of Science along with NIU and the Space Science Institute are currently producing a video, developing journal article, and publishing a case study on the NASA@My Library PEP project that will be available to all libraries interested in incorporating interest development strategies and this type of model.