GLPA Audio/Visual Resources Library

The following resources are available to GLPA members for FREE in digital form, usually available as an immediate download.

Note: If you would like to submit a printed resource, download and print the Audio/Visual Materials Waiver form (pdf), and send it to the Education Committee Chair along with a digital copy of the resource. Resources submitted are subject to approval by the Education Committee.

GLPA Policy on Digital Media Distribution

Please read GLPA's Policy on Digital Media Distribution (revised in the summer of 2014) for policy guidelines.

GLPA Script Bank

The full script bank contains over three hundred planetarium scripts from across the United States and abroad, covering a multitude of topics and spanning age levels from kindergarten to adult. ALL scripts are now available for immediate download for members -- see the Scripts page.

GLPA Show Kits

The Great Lakes Planetarium Association occasionally produces a planetarium program and makes it available to members on a cost recovery basis. These programs remain available to until supplies run out. Most of these kits would cost an additional 10% fee for non-members (see each show kit for details). To order one of these shows, choose one of the following options:

To pay with a check or purchase order:  Download, print, and send in the following form with your check:
GLPA Show Order Form .  (PDF file, 156k)

To pay with a credit card or PayPal:  Use our secure On-Line Store.

• Cosmic Colors (An Adventure Along the Spectrum):  take a tour across the electromagnetic spectrum in this planetarium show aimed at 5th grade and above. Currently available as a full dome show; coming soon as a traditional planetarium program.
• Solar System Adventure Tour: a participatory program aimed at students in grades 3-5.
• Zubenelgenubi's Magic Sky: a delightful participatory program aimed at students in grades K-1.
• The Stargazer: learn about the lives of stars and astronomers in this excellent program for middle school to adult. (Show length = 37 min.)
• Transit of Venus: a collection of resources related to the June 8, 2004 transit. This program will also be an excellent resource beyond this specific event. [This program is available to non-members without the 10% non-member fee.]
• Hotter Than Blue: a planetarium program about high-energy astronomy, and aimed at high school audiences and up.
• Saving the Night: a show produced by the Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA), it was written and narrated by David Levy, shows the treasure of the dark night sky, and teaches the problems and solutions to light pollution. [This program is available to non-members without the 10% non-member fee.]
• Amazing Stargazing: learn all the sky watching basics in this program aimed at grades 1-4. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Hercules & Other Superhero Stars: an introduction to the basics of stars as taught by the stars, for a target audience of grades 1-4. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Once in a Blue Moon: explore concepts related to the moon in this program aimed at grades 1-4. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• 3,2,1...Blast Off: this delightful solar system program is aimed at grades 1-4. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Space Dreams: explore the universe in this program for audiences in grades 5 to adult. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Winter Wonders: explore the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem, Winter Solstice, and more in this program for grades 1 and up. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Time Bandits (formerly Magical Millennium Tour): a program about time [day, month, year, etc] for grades 3 and up. [This program was donated by the former Minneapolis Planetarium.]
• Let There Be Night: a planetarium program or stand-alone video addressing the problem of light pollution, and outdoor lighting issues. The Great Lakes Planetarium Association sponsored the development of this program in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy. For a complete description of this program and the contents of this kit, visit the Let There Be Night web site. Or, go straight to the GLPA On-Line Store. [This program is available to non-members without the 10% non-member fee.]

To order any of the show kits listed above, please visit the GLPA Online Store.
 

GLPA Videos

To order one of these videos, choose one of the following options:

To pay with a check or purchase order: Download, print, and send in the following form with your check:
GLPA Show Order Form .  (PDF file, 156k)

To pay with a credit card or PayPal:  Use our secure On-Line Store.

• Rumplestiltskin's Starry Secret: This video (DVD) explains the origins of the elements, in stars and supernovae. [This program is also available to non-members without the additional 10% fee.]
• Clyde Tombaugh: Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of the "former planet" Pluto, gave an invited talk (with slide show) at the 1988 GLPA conference.
• 1994 Annular Eclipse: The May 10 solar eclipse, 60 minutes in three sections.
• Transit of Mercury: Video shot from Nevada of the November 8, 2006 transit of Mercury.
• Let There Be Night: [see the show kit description above; or go straight to the GLPA Online Store
• Animations by Dan Tell: Computer generated animations which can be used in show production.

To order any of the videos listed above, please visit the GLPA Online Store.
 

For more information about audio/visual resources contact:
Waylena McCully
William M. Staerkel Planetarium
Parkland College
2400 West Bradley Avenue
Champaign, IL 61821-1806
Phone: (217) 351-2568
E-mail: wmccully@parkland.edu

GLPA Resource Materials

The Resource Materials Bank is library of materials includes curriculum guides for various programs, lesson plans and activities, bibliographies and papers on certain subjects, and more. Note that ALL Resource Materials are now available for immediate download for members.
 

GLPA Proceedings

The Proceedings is an annual publication which provides the printed version of the talks, speeches, addresses, papers and other presentations at the annual fall conference. Other articles submitted during the year may also be published in the Proceedings. The Proceedings has been published each year since 1984. A comprehensive index of the Proceedings from 1984 through 1993 is available as a separate publication. Since production of the 2004 Proceedings CD, all current members receive an archive of all these past Proceedings after each conference. However, if you are not a GLPA member, you can order the latest Proceedings CD for $3 + the 10% non-member fee. Order through the Online Store, or using the order form. Now, you may also browse or search through abstracts of the papers online.
 

TIPS Booklets

TIPS booklets are single concept reference guides on a variety of subjects of interest for the beginning planetarian to the seasoned professional. Note that all TIPS Booklets are available for immediate download for members.

Social Media Resources for planetarians

The Social Media Resources page provides links to the planetarium-related social media resources Facebook, Twitter, Slack, and The Dome Dialogues.