This workshop 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.

These workshops will use materials from the Solar Science Circulation Kits and 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. The goals of these solar science workshops are to help library staff:

1. Build off the excitement of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses, and engage their patrons in solar science activities.
2. Safely and effectively facilitate direct (e.g. solar telescope and Sunoculars) and indirect methods of safe solar viewing.
3. Develop and facilitate exciting and interactive STEM programming at their library.

To learn more about the project, including how to register your library for free solar eclipse glasses, visit: www.starnetlibraries.org/about/our-projects/solar-eclipse-activities-libraries-seal/

This training will be held in the THINKspot makerspace at the Mesa Main Library.

Lunch will be provided.