Partner Highlight: Bringing the Universe to Schenectady, New York Libraries - The Children’s Museum at Saratoga’s Summer Exhibition Collaboration

Christina Leavell, Arizona State University
Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition Birdseye view of visitors interacting with exhibits
Aerial view of the full Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, New York is currently working with the Schenectady County Public Library System (SCPL) to coordinate sharing of the NISE Network’s Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition across six local libraries in the region. In this unique collaboration, the Museum’s copy of Sun, Earth, Universe will be intentionally split up across six libraries, and patrons will be encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt spanning all six locations. Those who visit each library get a special prize, as well as a new way to engage with the exhibition! 

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga has worked closely with SCPL for the past three years, and together they have delivered a variety of educational programs led by museum educators with library families. Briana Sullivan, Deputy Director at The Children’s Museum of Saratoga said of this work “It has been so rewarding to work with the Schenectady librarians to develop engaging programs tailored to their patrons, from the solar eclipse to cryptozoology and the scientific method. We are fortunate to be able to share the exhibit with them as a way to strengthen our partnership.”

Two Youth sit at the We Ask Questions about the Sun component of SEU, they are lifting flaps on the reading rail.
Two children engage with the "We Ask Questions about the Sun" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The Children's Museum at Saratoga
A young child sits at an exhibit component, there is a bin of small wood sticks of multiple colors and pixel puzzle where they are stacking these pieces.
A child engages with the pixel puzzle interactive in the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The Children's Museum at Saratoga

Here is a list of the exhibition experiences and the libraries where they can be found:

Single exhibition component, there is a large graphic that says The Sun with a NASA closeup image of the Sun.
The "We Ask Questions About the Sun" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network
Single exhibition component, there is a large graphic that says The Solar System and a reading rail with a pixel puzzle that can be interacted with using small pieces of wood of various colors.
The "We Ask Questions About the Solar System" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network
Single exhibition component, there is a large graphic that says The Universe with an image from the Hubble Telescope of galaxies in darkness.
The "We Ask Questions About the Universe" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network
Single exhibition component, there is a large graphic that says The Earth with a large image of the Earth showing North America.
The "We Ask Questions About the Earth" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closeup on a small round, wooden table with a tabletop graphic of Mars covering it and small wooden toy rovers on top.
The "Mars Landscape Play Table" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network

The libraries are already promoting the event (see paragraph below) and may also borrow some of the Museum's Explore Science: Earth and Space toolkits to complement the exhibition. A ribbon cutting will also be scheduled soon as a kick-off to this exciting summer program. 

A big thank you to The Children’s Museum at Saratoga and the six libraries of the Schenectady County Public Library System for working together to find new opportunities for your communities to engage in STEM! We greatly appreciate being a small part of this work, and greatly look forward to hearing how this summer program goes. All the best from the NISE Network!

A wide but short wooden table with a game board graphic across the top. It is hard to read but there are four small wooden players on the left.
The "Your Mission to Space Board Game" component of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition. Photo credit: The NISE Network

SCPL promotional excerpt : "This summer, the Schenectady County Public Library is partnering with The Children's Museum at Saratoga to bring an exciting traveling exhibit focused on the Sun, space and the universe to our community. Families can explore six interactive exhibits through a scavenger hunt spanning six of our library locations, offering a fun and educational experience for kids and adults alike. Participants are encouraged to visit each location and complete the scavenger hunt for a special incentive prize. Visit www.scpl.org for more information."