Valley Public Library was awarded one of the Nebraska Library Commission Youth Grants for Excellence for two microscope kits that would be made available for circulation and would be used in programming for youth and families. The presentation will include background information on our science station that led to the idea for the kits. Descriptions of projects and programs that have been successful will be presented along with potential for future programming and outreach. Presenters: Claire Bushong, Director, and Gary Brown, Volunteer, Valley (NE) Public Library.

1. Microscopes in the Library
How it all got started…
Claire Bushong
Gary Brown

2. The More I See
The More I See
There’s More To See
Gary Brown

3. The goldenrod in my back yard…
The more I see….

4. The soldier beetle on the golden rod…
The more I see…

5. The caterpillar on the goldenrod…The more I see…

6. Goldenrod pollen…
There’s more to see.
Electron micrograph, sciencephoto.com

7. The roadside ditch…
The more I see…

8. The roadside ditch on its
way to the lab…
The more I see…

9. Denizen of the ditch…
There’s more to see.

10. My First Microscope
Remembering the wonderful little
microscope I found under the Christmas
tree
when I was ten years old led me to
thinking about ways to share my
fascination
and enthusiasm for the microscopic
world with others.

11. This is what I saw…

12. What I really saw…

13. Finding an avenue for
such a project seemed to be a
logical first step.

14. The plan was to put microscopes in some type of
permanent facility that would offer consistent
availability and have some willing professional
support.
Science centers* and libraries offered the perfect
solution.
*my first job was in a science center

15. The Edgerton Explorit Center
Aurora, NE

16. Students from
area schools visit the
Edgerton Exporit Center
to participate in a variety
of science activities.
What’s wrong with this
Picture ?

18. Students have the opportunity to prepare and observe their slides

19. Valley Public Library
Valley, NE

20. Library photo
The Valley Library

21. An inexpensive eyepiece
camera
attached to a small monitor
is a
great way to stimulate
interest
In the Science Station.

22. Deciding upon a workable strategy was a
challenging task.
Selecting the appropriate microscopes,
organizing the permanent display, finding
supporting materials, and building the kits for
check – out became quite a project.
A larger challenge was preparing the potential
user.

23. Selecting the appropriate microscopes…
Is any microscope better than no microscope ?
Compound or Stereo
Simple or Complex

24. Organizing the permanent display …
At the Valley Library the Science Station is evolving.

25. The sign is on the wall and all is
looking good.
The Science Station is a real kid
magnet. New families never fail
to notice the area, and nearly
every day children stop by to
look at the specimens on display.
Through a recent donation we
have added more books and
worksheets.

26. finding supporting materials…
Magnifying Glasses are fun and inexpensive

27. finding more supporting materials…*
*Thanks to a very supportive library staff

28. And finding even more supporting materials…
The Specimens*
* Thanks to the students who came to Science Day

29. … and building the kits for check – out.

30. We received one of the Youth Grants for
Excellence from the Nebraska Library
Commission to assemble 2 kits for checkout,
allowing families to get a closer look at their
home surroundings.
A brief orientation is required for first-time
checkout, so they can make the most of their
experience.

31. So, what’s in the kit ?
Swift M3200D Microscope
Large Nylon Carrying Case
Accessories Drawer
Plastic Slides and Cover
Slips
Prepared Slide Sets
Telephone Camera Mount
Petri Dishes and Pipettes
Instruction cards for the
Microscope and the phone
mount

32. Instruction cards for the microscope and the phone mount
USINGTHECELLPHONECAMERAADAPTER
Step 1
Attach the eyepiece positioning guide to the camera adapter as shown in Figure 1a
and Figure 1b.
Figure 1a Figure 1b
Step 2
Attach the phone to the adapter as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2
Step 3
Center the hole in the position i n g guide
over the lens of the phone camera as
shown in Figure 3, and clamp the
phone securely using the thumb screw
on the phone clamp.
Figure 3
Step 4
Remove the positio
n
i ng guide from the camera adapter
and place the camera adapter on the eyepiece of the mi-
croscope as shown in Figure 4, so that the eyepiece is
flu
s
h with the mounting bracket. Use the “zoom” feature
on the phone camera to enlarge the view on the screen
until the image fil
l
s the viewing screen.
Figure 4

33. The phone mount allows users
to record their favorite
specimens.
Photos could be used for a
school report or a journal of
interesting finds.
A polarized effect (using cheap
sunglasses) turns sand found
on the sidewalk into something
quite beautiful.

34. Professionals in the area
The microscopes give us another
great tool that allows us to take
advantage of the skills of local
science professionals who
volunteer.
Kits can augment our Science
Station microscopes when needed.
Being a part of the Nebraska
Science Festival has been a great
experience the last 2 years.

35. A larger challenge
was preparing
the potential user.
Science Day
After School Programs
Special Classes
Summer Reading
Programs

36. After School Programs
and the
YMCA

37. Back to school night.

38. Special Classes
Before checking
out the microscope
each library member
must complete a
brief orientation.
We also have a class
on using the telephone
camera on the microscope.

39. For walk-in business, we
have found the stereo scopes
easier for staff, and younger
kids are more interested in
looking at the larger
specimens they can identify.

40. Kits are handy for
library staff to
transport to other
locations for special
outreach
experiences.

41. A project such as this is an ongoing learning
experience where every new activity opens
a door for another.
The growth of this project has been
encouraging as we are finding new
ways to make microscopy available to
the community through the participation
of a growing number of organizations.

42. Advocacy Day 2016
Volunteer Recognition

43. You too, can participate.
Submit a proposal for a microscope program in your library.
* May be for a circulating kit or a permanent microscope station
* Should include a program component (minimum of orientation to
using a microscope)
* Should include a matching component: a dollar amount or in-kind
(materials or local professional presentation)
Up to 2 microscopes will be made available in 2017. Deadline for
application is March 1, 2017.
Full application and instructions will be posted on the Valley Public
Library website by January 1: http://libraries.ne.gov/valley.

44. For additional information you may contact us at:
Claire Bushong
Valley Public Library
402 359 9924
cbushong@valley.omhcoxmail.com
Gary Brown
G W Brown Company
402 359 5801
gw2brown@earthlink.net