Library invites patrons to Explore Space

Maggie Kinney, special projects manager at Heights Libraries, shows off the traveling exhibit Explore Space: A Cosmic Journey in the Lee Road branch art gallery

Where did we come from, and are we alone? Through March 9, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System invites the community to ponder these questions—and others—in Explore Space: A Cosmic Journey, a traveling museum-style exhibition and program series about the fascinating world of space and astronomy.

Funded by a 2015 STAR_Net grant, Explore Space will kick off on Jan. 25 with an opening celebration featuring hands-on space-themed activities for all ages.

Programs will take place at all four of Heights Libraries’ branches.

“This is a really special opportunity for Heights Libraries and the communities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights,” said Maggie Kinney, special projects manager at Heights Libraries. “Our wonderful librarians have planned over 20 programs for the public, including space-themed storytimes, art and craft programs, book discussions, and after-school STEM programs for children in grades K–12.”

Heights Libraries has partnered with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on two of these programs. The first, Understanding the Universe, to be held on Jan. 24, will feature a discussion of the past, present and future of our university with Jason Davis, the museum’s planetarium manager. The second, set for March 6 at Heights Libraries’ Coventry Village branch, will be a family program exploring Starlab, the portable planetarium from the museum’s Educational Resource Center.

The programs offered in this series aim to deepen the community’s understanding of our place in the universe and spark the curiosity of children and adults alike. Kinney explained that this intention reflects the library’s mission to open doors and minds for all members of its community.

“STEM learning holds a large interest in the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities,” Kinney said. “With the STAR_Net grant, Heights Libraries is able to support innovative learning by providing opportunities for fun, free and high-quality STEM programs in the library. We think people of all ages and backgrounds will find that the exhibition explores the universe, and our place in it, in a way that is understandable, inspirational and relevant.”

Heights Libraries will also host an interactive, all-ages exhibit at the Lee Road branch art gallery. The exhibit is free and open to all members of the public during normal library hours.

For a full schedule of events, visit www.heightslibrary.org or call 216-932-3600. Note that some programs require advance registration.

Explore Space: A Cosmic Journey is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) led by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute. Exhibit partners include the American Library Association, the Lunar Planetary Institute, and Afterschool Alliance. Explore Space is supported through a grant from the Nation Science Foundation.

Jay Rosen

Jay Rosen is communications coordinator at Heights Libraries.

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Volume 11, Issue 2, Posted 11:59 AM, 01.23.2018