SAN ANGELO – The Tom Green County Library reached for the stars and received a new two year grant from NASA.

Over 400 libraries applied for a NASA grant and 75 were chosen, but Tom Green County Stephens Library wasn't among them. Instead, they received a surprise: the first-of-its-kind Patron Experience grant.

Wanda Green, assistant library director, was incredibly excited when she discovered her proposal won the grant.

"We only knew about the other 75, that really put (Wanda Green) over the moon," said Marcy Bosequett, community relations coordinator at Tom Green County Library. "No pun intended."

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The library found out about the grant last week. They would have found out earlier, but the government shutdown caused a delay.

"When I received email notification that we were awarded, I did a celebratory dance in my office, then re-read the email to be sure I had read correctly," Green said. "To be selected as the recipient of such a competitive and prestigious program is amazing ..."

Both Bosequett and Green believe the library was chosen due to their partnerships with groups such as Angelo State University and the San Angelo Astronomy Association. Those partnerships allowed them to improve STEM education "for not only our immediate community, but for the entire Concho Valley."

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The two year Patron Experience pilot program will provide $5,000 a year, which will go toward some rare experiences. One of these will be the chance to see some lunar and meteorite disks, one of six in existence, Bosequett said.

The program will offer a free-standing display with various hands-on activities. There will be three "major public programs" each year due to this grant.

Those major programs will be an Earth Day celebration April 22, Universe of Stories beginning on June 1 and International Observe the Moon Night on Oct. 5. In 2020, there will be new programs.

The Universe of Stories series of programs will begin at 8 p.m. June 1, on the library roof with night sky viewing with the San Angelo Astronomy Association, NASA activity kits with San Angelo TAME students and other NASA space program memorabilia.

"Following this kick-off, we will have a summer filled with space science themed programs through August at all three branches, from special story-times, to a theatrical performance about Armstrong's walk on the moon, to movies and even a rocketry camp," Green said.

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