Shellharbour City Library was buzzing with excitement on Thursday, 6 November as community members gathered to celebrate the launch of the new Citizen Science Corner.
The event featured a special visit from Dragon Training Mobile Zoo, with live Green Tree Frogs delighting children and adults alike. Held in celebration of FrogID Week (7-16 November), the launch encouraged residents to become citizen scientists and contribute to real-world research by recording frog calls using the free Australian Museum FrogID app.
Caption: Live Green Tree Frogs were at the launch of the new Citizen Science Corner at Shellharbour City Library. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council
FrogID Week, hosted annually by the Australian Museum, is Australia's largest frog count. Every November, citizen scientists use the FrogID app to record frog calls, helping researchers monitor frog populations and understand how they are responding to environmental change.
In last year's FrogID Week, 34,000 records were submitted in Australia and a total of 112 frog species were recorded, representing 44 percent of all known Australian frog species.
The new Citizen Science Corner at City Library includes frog-themed kits complete with frog guides, torches, and kids' activities. These kits are available for library members to borrow, encouraging local participation in environmental monitoring and biodiversity awareness.
Shellharbour City Libraries was successful in securing funding from the Citizen Science Corners in Public Libraries grant from the Australian Citizen Science Association and the Australian Library and Information Association to support the initiative.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer praised the program for its hands-on approach to science engagement.
"It was fantastic to see so many families getting involved and learning about our local frog species," Mayor Homer said.
"This project is a great example of how libraries inspire curiosity and connect our community with nature."
The Citizen Science Corner is now open at Shellharbour City Library, and frog kits are available to borrow.
KEY MESSAGES:
• Shellharbour City Library has launched a new Citizen Science Corner, offering borrowable frog-themed kits to encourage community participation in environmental monitoring.
• The launch event featured live Green Tree Frogs and marked the lead-up to FrogID Week, Australia's largest frog count led by the Australian Museum.
• The initiative empowers residents to become citizen scientists, using the free FrogID app to record frog calls and contribute to national biodiversity research.
