Total Eclipse of the Sun

Eclipse mania is taking hold! The Round Rock Public Library held a very well attended event on Saturday, July 29th with activities for all ages to learn more about the solar eclipse.
                    
We made a sun dial, explored with shadows using flashlights and projectors, and ate cookies like the dragons people used to believe were eating the sun. I loved this simple craft we did while learning about the sun’s corona and I wanted to share it.

        

We outlined a cardboard circle with white chalk on black construction paper (left). We then used our finger to smudge away from the circle making it look remarkably like the sun’s corona (right) which is easily visible during a total eclipse.

Do you have a 3D printer at your library? NASA has shared the .STL file for a pinhole projector in the shape of Texas! This page also has PDFs for making them out of card stock and other inexpensive ideas for safely viewing the eclipse. Speaking of safety, Star_Net is offering a free webinar on Safe Eclipse Viewing on Wednesday, August 2nd at 2pm Central. If you cannot attend, the archive will be available a day or two after.

Here are additional ideas from the experts at NASA for hands on activities during your event, including how to stream the event live. Finally, make your event complete with these stellar snack ideas and suggested music playlist.

Please share your solar eclipse plans with me via email! We can’t wait to hear how you will be celebrating this celestial event.

Save the Date for Showcase!

Please save the date for our annual Central Texas Performer Showcase to be held at the Georgetown Public Library on Friday, November 3rd. Registration to attend will be sent out closer to the event, but mark your calendars so you can see before you hire!

Tell Us About Your Summer

We are getting reports in from around Texas about how everyone’s summer reading programs are going including photos of packed programs and favorite performers and speakers. For example, Clifton is on course to have a record setting number of participants this year! Please let us know how your summer is going. Who have your favorite performers been? Please send me an email and let me know if it is ok to share with others. Thank you!

YouthLinks

• Does your library participate during Hour of Code events? It takes place during Computer Science Education Week in December. Get ready with these resources!
• Kohl’s is selling Mo Willems plushes for only $5, though the youth services internet went a little wild and might have wiped them out. But it looks like they still have Pigeon online! Check with your local store.
• Get some tips for Transforming Teen Spaces from the 5min Librarian.
• Governor Greg Abbott Announces Texas Public Elementary School Reading Initiative
• Favorite Texas performer and storyteller Bernadette Nason will have her memoir, Tea in Tripoli, published this month.
• You know you are a youth services librarian when you find yourself needing something to remove urine stains and smells! This one in particular was talked up as a favorite recently on a YS listserv.
• Check out the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Winners!
• Check out The Best Learning Apps to Keep Kids Engaged All Summer
• Free Lunch at the Library