Reach for the Skies - Telescopes for loan at Westminster Reference Library
Lead Research Organisation:
Westminster City Council
Department Name: Westminster Reference Library
Abstract
The principal aims of this project are to stimulate interest, inspire, enthuse and educate the general public in astronomy, enable people who have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery, to provide a valuable asset for the community and to demonstrate that science is for everyone.
Through this project we will engage a more diverse audience with astronomy (given the City of Westminster unique population) and will make the subject of astronomy available and accessible to communities that are disadvantaged and under-represented; remove the barrier of social inequality by providing free events in their local library.
We also aim to encourage partnership between secondary schools, colleges and Westminster Reference Library and make the subject of astronomy come alive in a fun, practical and accessible way through our sky viewing sessions for young people (aged 15-18).
We believe the idea of loaning telescopes goes to the heart of what libraries should be about in the 21st century, providing free access to knowledge and widening horizons, in a safe, trusted, environment.
This project will give an opportunity for the library to re-emphasise its original purpose which is to give the whole community access to resources which they could not afford to buy individually.
The library is keen to support science literacy and to give astronomy a higher profile, as this forms part of its unique Newtonian heritage.
(Sir Isaac Newton lived on the site of the library - 35 St. Martin's Street, London, WC2H 7HP - between 1710 and 1727 and constructed an observatory on the roof.)
Through this project we will engage a more diverse audience with astronomy (given the City of Westminster unique population) and will make the subject of astronomy available and accessible to communities that are disadvantaged and under-represented; remove the barrier of social inequality by providing free events in their local library.
We also aim to encourage partnership between secondary schools, colleges and Westminster Reference Library and make the subject of astronomy come alive in a fun, practical and accessible way through our sky viewing sessions for young people (aged 15-18).
We believe the idea of loaning telescopes goes to the heart of what libraries should be about in the 21st century, providing free access to knowledge and widening horizons, in a safe, trusted, environment.
This project will give an opportunity for the library to re-emphasise its original purpose which is to give the whole community access to resources which they could not afford to buy individually.
The library is keen to support science literacy and to give astronomy a higher profile, as this forms part of its unique Newtonian heritage.
(Sir Isaac Newton lived on the site of the library - 35 St. Martin's Street, London, WC2H 7HP - between 1710 and 1727 and constructed an observatory on the roof.)
Planned Impact
* The results of evaluation will be quantified, documented and communicated to external and internal stakeholders, and the information gathered will be used to produce a programme report.
* Programme media (photography, audio, film) will be available on Westminster/Tri-Borough Libraries social media (Twitter, Facebook, Eventbrite,LinkdIn, Youtube) and websites.
* Press cuttings and online links featuring photos and stories about the programme will be collated.
* Evaluation will be shared through presentations to stakeholders, media, and online social media, online directory and resource guides for local authorities and national library network.
* Online forums - participants and staff will be invited to share opinions about the programme through online discussion groups and blogs on 'Books & the City' webpage. The Online Services coordinator (Ali Holder - Tri-Borough Libraries) will gather and analyse comments shared online for use in evaluation summaries.
* VOX-POPS during events/sky watching sessions staff will interview participants about their experiences using handheld audio-visual recording device to gather feedback.
* There will be a dedicated webpage on the WCC Libraries website about the programme created by Tri-Borough Website Team.
* We intend to share the results of our project with other libraries across the UK through the forum of CILIP (chartered institute of library and information professionals) and provide support in the form of advice and information to any other libraries who wish to replicate this project.
* Programme media (photography, audio, film) will be available on Westminster/Tri-Borough Libraries social media (Twitter, Facebook, Eventbrite,LinkdIn, Youtube) and websites.
* Press cuttings and online links featuring photos and stories about the programme will be collated.
* Evaluation will be shared through presentations to stakeholders, media, and online social media, online directory and resource guides for local authorities and national library network.
* Online forums - participants and staff will be invited to share opinions about the programme through online discussion groups and blogs on 'Books & the City' webpage. The Online Services coordinator (Ali Holder - Tri-Borough Libraries) will gather and analyse comments shared online for use in evaluation summaries.
* VOX-POPS during events/sky watching sessions staff will interview participants about their experiences using handheld audio-visual recording device to gather feedback.
* There will be a dedicated webpage on the WCC Libraries website about the programme created by Tri-Borough Website Team.
* We intend to share the results of our project with other libraries across the UK through the forum of CILIP (chartered institute of library and information professionals) and provide support in the form of advice and information to any other libraries who wish to replicate this project.
Publications
By M@
(2018)
The Library That Lends Out Telescopes
in The Londonist
Elizabeth Dale
(2018)
Reach For The Skies
in Astonomy Now
Pema Monaghan
(2018)
No more missed a night sky
in Westminster Extra
| Title | The library hosted a public exhibiton and workshop 'An Introduction to Astrophotography with a DSLR Camera' |
| Description | The Library held a free public workshop 'An Introduction to Astrophotography with a DSLR Camera' led by amateur astronomical photographer Martin Howe. This workshop demonstrated how they could use the library telescopes for loan with a DSLR camera. The library also hosted an exhibition of Martin Howe's astronomical photographs, one of which was featured in an article about the telescope project in the Covent Gardener magazine. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | This workshop was fully booked and very well received by the public, the feedback we received indicated that there is great demand for future workshops on this subject. |
| Description | Collaboration between Royal Astronomical Society and Westminster Reference Library to promote the telescopes for loan and make astronomy freely accessible to the public through free public talks and workshops held at the library. |
| Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Westminster Reference Library organised an Astronomy Month in September 2018 comprising a series of astronomy talks and workshops. Since then we have have had regular speakers delivering talks. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Robert Massey advised us on speakers to contact for our Astronomy Events in the library. He is also holding a talk here about the moon on 6th December 2018. He has put us in contact with Martin Howe, who did a talk/ workshop on astrophotography and Kevin Walsh who delivered a lecture about telescopes. |
| Impact | This partnership has succeeded in fostering public engagement with astronomy and with the library telescope for loan scheme though collaborating on a series of public lectures. The Royal Astronomical Society contributed to this outcome by putting us in contact with most of the speakers who delivered these talks. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Astro-photography Talk and workshop by Martin Howe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event was part talk part workshop. Martin talked about his own astrophotography work and also demonstrated how people could talk astrological photographs themselves using basic equipment and using the library telescopes for loan. He also provided handouts with instructions. The library hosted an exhibition of astrophotography in conjunction with this talk. Feedback on this talk included the following comment 'Fantastic talk, clear and great structure, speaker also highly knowledgeable' A summary of the Event is pasted below: Ever wanted to take photographs of the stars? Martin Howe, a keen astrophotographer and fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, will introduce you to the concepts and techniques required for you to take your own images of the night sky using a digital single-lens reflex camera. The discussion will cover getting the most from your DSLR's settings, and what can be achieved, from just a simple camera tripod, through to using a DSLR camera in conjunction with a telescope such as those that are available to borrow from the Westminster Reference library. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The library and Westminster council press office jointly produced an instructional film on how to use the library telescopes. This is posted on the library website and the council YouTube site. The library engaged Nicholas Jouannou to demonstrate how to use the telescopes on the film. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The primary purpose of the film was to instruct people who were borrowing a telescope from the library on how to use it safely, properly and get the most out of their experience. Posting the film on line enabled them to view from home at their own convenience. We have received very positive feedback from customers borrowing the telescopes who tell us that they found it very useful and easy to understand. Another effect of posting it online was that it was able to publicise the project to a wider audience, on the 26 November 2018 it had been viewed 225 times. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLcE06zH11g&feature=youtu.be |
| Description | 'SALON NO. 57: LONDON ASTRONOMERS' - Rebekah Higgit and Rob Iliffe delivered a talk on Halley and Newton |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk was a collaborative event between the library and 'Antique Beat' , a cultural society who publish and produce music, literary, cultural and historical events. It was attended by a representative of Hendrix gin who prepared the audience a cocktail in a tea cup. Much lively discussion followed. Many of the audience were unaware that the library was on the site of Newton's former home and observatory and asked staff for more details. A summary of the event is pasted below. SALON NO. 57: LONDON ASTRONOMERS West End Stars: Halley and Newton with Rebekah Higgit and Rob Iliffe Each ticket includes a 'lens' of Hendricks Interplanetary Gin Punch Calling all stargazers. To celebrate Astronomy Month at Westminster Library (who are, in an extraordinary initiative, the first library in Europe to lend out telescopes), REBEKAH HIGGITT and ROB ILIFFE join us to chart the stellar lives of two of the greatest astronomers of all time, both of whom practiced their craft right here in London. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://antiquebeat.co.uk/events/salon-no-57-london-astronomers |
| Description | Borrowing Telescopes - The library has been 5 lending telescopes to the public for free. These telescopes have been purchased by funding from The STFC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Library purchased 5 telescopes with funding from the STFC and have been lending them out to the public for free. We have lent telescopes to 46 customers so far. The lending telescopes have been much in demand and there is always a waiting list for them. There have been times when some of the telescopes have not been available for loan, either because they have been kept aside for workshop demonstrations or because they have required maintenance work. We lend the telescopes to the public for free and so far all have been returned without significant problems. We are the first library in Europe to start lending telescopes. The project has proved very popular, generating a lot of interest from the public and media and it has been the main platform for launching regular astronomy talks and workshops at the library. As a result of launching this project in April 2018 Westminster Reference Library has become the hub for a community of local astronomy enthusiasts. We send regular emails about our telescopes for loan and our upcoming astronomy events to a mailing list which has attracted 380 subscribers in less than a year. As a result of our program many people have had the chance to use a telescope for the first time. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Exploring Our Expanding Universe - by Dr Andreu Font Ribera - A public talk on a subject that had been much requested by customers completing our feedback forms. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We asked Dr Andreu Font Ribera to deliver this talk in direct response to a significant number of customers requesting a talk on this subject when completing our events feedback forms. The talk was followed by a Q and A session. It was attended by quite a young audience including a few A level students preparing for university interviews for astronomy courses. A summary of the talk is pasted below: Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is only one of the billions of galaxies in the Universe. A hundred years ago, Edwin Hubble discovered that most of our neighboring galaxies are receding from us, and suggested for the first time that our Universe could be expanding. This hypothesis was soon confirmed with the observations of more and more distant galaxies, and the theory of the Big Bang was suggested to explain the observed expansion. In this talk Dr Andreu Font Ribera will give an overview of what we know about the expansion of the Universe, and how we can use maps of the distribution of galaxies to measure the expansion and learn about the different components of our Universe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview for BBC Radio London on the Robert Elms Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On Friday 6th of November 2018, Robert Elms from BBC Radio London interviewed Cllr Jacqui Wilkinson, Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Community at Westminster City Council, about Westminster Libraries. The interview focussed particularly on the telescopes for loan at Westminster Reference Library. Cllr Wilkinson explained how the scheme - the first of its kind in Europe - allows anyone aged 18 and over to borrow a telescope for free, and also talked about the importance of libraries to communities and how they are evolving to meet the needs of the modern world. The interview publicised the project to a large, London wide audience and attracted a positive response on social Media. https://twitter.com/CityWestminster/status/1059772113014407168 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/CityWestminster/status/1059772113014407168 |
| Description | Moon: Art, Science, Culture - Talk by Alexandra Loske & Robert Massey - A public lecture and book launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event was a combined talk and book launch and celebrated the upcoming 50th anniversary of the moon landing . Alexandra Loske and Robert Massey discussed the history of how the moon has been perceived in science and art. The talk was illustrated by some very visually impressive slides. We received very positive feedback and several customers commented that they enjoyed the mix of science and art in this talk . We have planned for Alexandrea Loske to deliver another talk in the library in 2019. We are also discussing the possibility of holding an art workshop related to this talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Public Astronomy Talk - Dr Helen Mason - the Sun our Star |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk was attended by 65 members of the public, it was followed by a Q and A session. It received very positive feedback including the following comment " Very clearly presented and interesting subject - speaker was very well versed in the subject." The synopsis of the talk and details of the speaker are pasted below. The Sun is now in a quiet phase of its eleven year activity cycle. Several solar space observatories have been watching the Sun over the past couple of decades: SoHO, Stereo, Hinode and the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Others will be launched soon: NASA's Parker Solar Probe (August 2018), ESA's Solar Orbiter. This talk will review what we have learnt about our dynamic Sun, in particular what we know (and don't yet know!) about sunspots, solar active regions and flares (huge explosions), and how the Sun affects the Earth's environment (space weather). Dr Helen Mason OBE Dr Helen Mason is solar scientist at the University of Cambridge. Her field of research is solar physics, in particular the ultraviolet and X-ray spectrum of the Sun. She has worked on many joint UK, NASA, ESA and Japanese space projects including Skylab, the Solar Maximum Mission, Yohkoh, SoHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), Hinode, SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) and IRIS. Recent solar space observations have completely changed our view of the Sun. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | Public workshop on how to use telescopes, focussing on the library telescopes for loan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The library organised 5 free telescope workshops for the general public, giving them the opportunity for discovering the universe by learning how to use a telescope and how to navigate the night skies with the direction and aid of Nicholas Joannou, a member of the Royal Astronomical Society who provides professional guidance on using telescopes. These workshops walked the participants through the whole processes of setting up and using a telescope, step by step, and explained |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Telescope & Sky - Astronomy Workshop - Telescope workshop followed by sky viewing. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nicholas Joannou delivered a workshop on how to use the library lending telescopes followed by a sky viewing sessions on the 3rd floor balcony using the large telescope. This event was overwhelmingly well received, many attendees had never looked through a telescope before and several went on to join the local amateur stargazing group ' The Baker Street irregular Astronomers' having first found out about them and got a taste for star gazing at this event. Feedback included the following comment. " I am very excited about stargazing and joining the Regents park stargazers and really enjoyed the talk and introduction to telescopes." Summary of the event is pasted below: Explore the cosmos at the very site of Sir Isaac Newton's London home and observatory, Westminster Reference Library in Leicester Square. A special and unique opportunity for discovering the universe by learning how to use a telescope and how to navigate the night skies with the direction and aid of a professional astronomer. Nicholas Joannou from the Royal Astronomical Society will walk you through the whole processes of setting up and using a telescope, step by step, opening up the cosmos for you to explore. Following the workshop if weather permits we will be holding a sky viewing session where we hope to see the Moon, Mars and Saturn. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The New Science of Astrobiology and the Search for Life in the Universe - A public talk - This was arranged in response to customer request for a talk on this subject. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk was arranged in response to the many requests we received from customers for a talk about the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. The talk was followed by a Q and A sessions and was very well received and we had many very positive comments. A summary of the talk and details about the speaker are listed below This talk will summarise the new interdisciplinary science of astrobiology - the search for life in the universe. The talk will begin by describing the planetary and evolutionary context of life on Earth and it's implications for finding life elsewhere. Building on this perspective, the talk will consider the prospects for finding life, or evidence for past life, elsewhere in our Solar System, for example on the planet Mars and the icy moons of the outer solar system, before moving on to consider the potential habitability of planets recently discovered orbiting other stars. Ian Crawford is an astronomer and planetary scientist, and is currently Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is also a vice president of the Royal Astronomical Society. Ian's research focusses mainly on lunar geology, including the possibility of finding economically useful resources on the Moon, and on the search for past or present life on Mars. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The World's Greatest Telescopes - By Dr Kevin Walsh - a public talk about the history of the most famous telescopes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A very lively talk, much enjoyed by the audience. We hope to invite Kevin Walsh back to deliver another talk at the library. Telescopes reveal the deepest mysteries of space and are amongst the most ingenious and impressive structures humans have ever created. In this presentation we will look at the telescopes that have changed our view of the heavens forever: how they work, what they have revealed to us and who used them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Women and the Stars - by Dr Helen Klus - A public talk about how women have shaped our understanding of the universe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk provoked much discussion about women and astronomy and was attended by a substantial number of female college and school students who were interested in following a career in astronomy. We received very positive feedback including the following comment " It was very impressive and helpful - inspired me to continue my dream of a career in astronomy". A summary of the talk and details of the speaker follow: Women have studied the stars for the whole of human history, and yet their stories are not often told. In Women and the Stars, Dr Helen Klus from the Royal Astronomical Society shows how women have shaped our understanding of the universe. From painting prehistoric star maps on the walls of caves, to discovering dark matter in the Galaxy, to commanding space shuttles and waking in space. At the same time, these women have faced tremendous prejudice. Henrietta Swan Leavitt, for example, discovered how to determine the distance to stars. She may have used this to discover that the universe is expanding, but women weren't allowed to use high-calibre telescopes until the 1960s. And so Hubble made the discovery instead, and his name is on the side of the telescope. Astronomers like Margaret Burbidge, who helped discover how elements are made in stars, had to sneak into Mount Wilson Observatory posing as her husband's assistant. Many women corresponded with scientists in their husband's name. Women regularly gained university degrees without being allowed to attend lectures, then worked for free, and were fired upon getting married. Many women were barred from university all together because of their race. Dr Klus looks at how this history has led to the current climate for women in astronomy, including media representation and the effect of the #MeToo movement, and discusses why diversity is better for everyone. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |