NASA Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians
NASA has unveiled an exciting new **Citizen Science Toolkit for Librarians**, designed to empower libraries and community organizations in facilitating citizen science projects. This toolkit provides a comprehensive set of resources aimed at helping librarians engage their patrons—whether they are in rural or urban settings, youth groups, or retirement communities—with NASA’s citizen science initiatives. The goal is to inspire curiosity and participation in scientific endeavors among individuals aged 8 and up, fostering a sense of community and shared discovery.
The toolkit is packed with essential materials that guide program leaders through the planning and execution of a NASA Science event. It includes a detailed preparation guide that covers everything from selecting and equipping the event space to familiarizing oneself with the specific citizen science project being highlighted. Additionally, the toolkit offers an editable poster for event promotion, a structured agenda to keep the event organized, and handouts that explore various NASA-sponsored citizen science opportunities. Notably, the creators of the toolkit, Sarah Kirn from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and librarian Kara Reiman, along with NASA’s Citizen Science Officer Marc Kuchner, have also produced a video walkthrough to help librarians navigate the resources effectively.
Feedback from early users of the toolkit has been overwhelmingly positive, with one librarian noting the excitement of introducing new citizen science kits to their community. Another librarian highlighted the significance of these resources for children in rural areas, emphasizing that access to such opportunities is a major win for local engagement in science. For those interested in exploring NASA’s citizen science projects, a wealth of information can be found at [science.nasa.gov/citizen-science](http://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science). The toolkit not only serves as a practical guide for librarians but also as a gateway for communities to participate in groundbreaking scientific research, potentially leading to new discoveries and a deeper appreciation for science.
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.
The toolkit prepares a program leader to lead a NASA Science event for people ages 8 and up. The toolkit includes:
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 opportunities
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.
“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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