NASA and the American Library Association (ALA), Chicago, have
launched a three-year program aimed at educating and exposing both
children and adults to the wonders of space travel and the benefits
of space research.
Called “NASA @ your library(TM),” the program is being developed by
NASA’s Office of Biological and Physical Research, Washington, and
ALA’s Development Office to raise awareness and interest in math
and science, encourage young people to pursue careers in science
and increase the visibility of NASA programs and scientific
findings.
“Libraries can help NASA take the excitement and potential of space
research to every person in every community across America. Young
Americans across the country will be able to identify new career
opportunities, and citizens in every community will glimpse how the
same science that will take us beyond the planet could transform
every American’s future on the planet,” said Dr. Kathie L. Olsen,
NASA’s Associate Administrator of Biological and Physical Research,
Headquarters, Washington.
NASA and ALA will develop a pilot program to share and promote
scientific information on NASA research and demonstrate the
expertise of librarians in selecting excellent books. A program-
specific Web site and traveling exhibit will be developed, and six
library sites will be selected as models.
The traveling interactive exhibit will spend a month at libraries
across the country and will have four special, electronic, weekly
presentations specifically created for different segments of the
community. Participating libraries will receive a small incentive
grant to implement the program.
“Through ‘NASA @ your library,’ we will send a strong message that
both public libraries and NASA have a wealth of information freely
available for all citizens,” said ALA President John W. Berry.
“Libraries bring you a world of resources.”
NASA and ALA will develop an action kit for distribution to public
libraries: a poster, guidelines for expansion of library
collections to support the NASA Web site and exhibit, public
library activities to encourage more young people to become
scientists and program training — both in-person and Web-based —
for librarians and others.
A national advisory committee will be appointed, and the
Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA,
will manage the grant.
NASA’s Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR) conducts
peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, fundamental and applied research
to address the opportunities and challenges to NASA that are
provided by the space environment and the human exploration of
space.
The ALA, founded in 1876, is the oldest and largest library
association in the world.
More information on NASA’s Office of Biological and Physical
Research is available at:
