NASA Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians
NASA has recently launched an exciting **Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians**, designed to empower library staff and community leaders to engage patrons in NASA’s citizen science initiatives. This toolkit is a valuable resource for rural and urban libraries, informal educators, youth group leaders, and retirement community coordinators, aiming to broaden participation in scientific exploration and discovery. By providing libraries with the necessary tools to host events, NASA hopes to spark interest in science among individuals aged 8 and up, ultimately fostering a sense of community and curiosity about the universe.
The toolkit is comprehensive, offering a variety of resources to facilitate successful citizen science events. It includes a detailed guide that helps program leaders prepare for their gatherings, covering everything from selecting and equipping the event space to understanding the specific citizen science project that will be highlighted. Additionally, the toolkit features an editable poster for event promotion, a model agenda to keep the event organized, and a handout that outlines various NASA-sponsored citizen science opportunities. The creators of this toolkit, Sarah Kirn and Kara Reiman, alongside NASA’s Citizen Science Officer Marc Kuchner, have even produced a video walkthrough to enhance understanding and usability.
Feedback from early users of the toolkit has been overwhelmingly positive. Librarians have expressed excitement about integrating NASA’s citizen science projects into their existing programs, with one participant noting the toolkit’s potential to expand opportunities for children in rural communities. By sharing these resources, NASA aims to invite more individuals to participate in scientific endeavors, allowing them to contribute to real-world research and possibly discover something new. For those interested in exploring NASA’s citizen science projects, a wealth of information is available at [science.nasa.gov/citizen-science](https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science). This initiative not only enhances scientific literacy but also strengthens community ties through collaborative learning and exploration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX_81q-3QfQ
2 min read
NASA Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians
Librarians: NASA Citizen Science has something for you!
Our new
Toolkit for Librarians
can help you share NASA citizen science opportunities with your patrons and community members. Rural and urban libraries, informal educators, youth group leaders, and retirement community coordinators can all benefit from this resource. Together, we can open the door for more people to join the fun, learning, and thrill of doing NASA science. Â
The toolkit prepares a program leader to lead a NASA Science event for people ages 8 and up. The toolkit includes:Â
A guide to help you prepare for the event, from choosing and equipping the space, to becoming familiar with the citizen science project that will be the focus of the event
An editable 8.5” by 11” poster to advertise your event
A model agenda to follow during your event
A handout for you and your participants to help you explore NASA-sponsored citizen science project opportunitiesÂ
The toolkit creators, Sarah Kirn (Participatory Science Strategist, NASA, from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute) and Kara Reiman (librarian), together with NASA’s Citizen Science Officer Marc Kuchner, also recorded
a video walk-through
of this Toolkit.Â
“I appreciate this so much!” said one participant. “I have started Citizen Science Kits for circulation over this past year and am excited to share new opportunities with our patrons!”
“Living in a very rural and primarily native community, the kids here are limited with their nearby opportunities, so sharing this with them is a huge win…” said another.
Which NASA citizen project is best for you? You’ll find all these projects at
science.nasa.gov/citizen-science
, and you’ll find more resources like this in our
Toolkit for Librarians!
Sarah Kirn, GMRI + Marc Kuchner, NASA
Learn More and Get Involved
NASA Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians
Please share this toolkit – or use it yourself – to invite more people to do NASA science with us – who knows what they will discover?!
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Last Updated
Nov 24, 2025
Related Terms
Citizen Science
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