About the Citizen and Community Science Library Network

The Library Network supports libraries and community-based organizations in becoming community hubs for citizen and community science—places where people can connect, learn, and contribute to real scientific research. Through turnkey resources, professional development, a global network for sharing best practices, and co-created programs, the Network empowers librarians and staff to engage their users in discovery and civic action together.

Why libraries?

Libraries address known barriers to engagement in citizen science, including a lack of awareness, limited access to tools/resources, and feelings of social isolation when involved in projects.
In 2017, with support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, SciStarter and Arizona State University teamed up with six pilot libraries in Arizona to co-create citizen science kits, trainings and program resources. Since then, the program has expanded across the United States and is also scaling in Europe and Australia.
As a result, library users are reporting gains in awareness of and interest in citizen science, knowledge of science, confidence in the user’s ability to collect data and interpret data (University Office of Evaluation and Educational Effectiveness. Arizona State University. (2019). Libraries as Community Hubs for Citizen Science: Year 2 Summative Evaluation Report.)

How SciStarter Makes it Easy for Network Members:

Turnkey Program Resources – Simple guides for events called “Event Recipe Cards” and more
Citizen Science Kit Templates – Ready-to-go physical kits for circulation
Marketing Toolkits – Flyers, graphics, social media assets
Professional Development – Free self-paced trainings, webinars, a bimonthly newsletter
Peer Networking – Join 1,200+ libraries nationwide and join the discourse on Facebook
Thematic Activities – Perfect for your Summer Reading programs
Technical Support – access to a network of SciStarter Ambassadors ready to support you

We highly recommend you create a free SciStarter account before joining the Library Network, to take full advantage of all the resources available to you.

Join the Network

Steering Committee Members

Thank you to this dedicated group of librarians who volunteer their time to help shape this network, resources and community.

Rachael Blomquist, Programming Librarian, Putnam County Public Library District, Illinois
Kathleen Bross, Kemmerer Library, New Jersey
Vivienne Byrd, Los Angeles, California
Heather Caldwell, Ringwood Public Library, New Jersey
Deborah Dutcher, Accessible Library Services Consultant, NH State Library, New Hampshire
Misty Hawkins, Regional Director, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System, Arkansas
Rebekah Kreitner, Librarian at Virginia Beach Public Library, Virginia
Branson Merrill, Farmington Public Library, Farmington, Missouri
Lise Mitchell, Library Director, Grand Ledge Area District Library, Michigan