The Aurora Fossil Museum has started 2016 by stepping into the national spotlight, reaching 14 million readers and countless others on social media.

Aurora Fossil Museum Director Cynthia Crane was recently featured in an article about Megalodon, an ancient shark measuring anywhere from 46-59 feet that lived millions of years ago, in several versions of Scholastic Magazine, a publication for elementary-aged children, she said.

Crane was approached by Scholastic in November, weeks after a story for which she was interviewed broke about a Megalodon tooth washing up on the shores of the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

“I think what the catalyst was, was the media frenzy with being spotlighted around the world when WITN 7 interviewed me at the end of October,” Crane said. “I think (Scholastic) noticed the article online after it went viral. (The article) is pretty big news. It’s some exposure for Aurora and the museum.”

Crane said the exposure the museum has gained during her 18-month tenure at the museum is attributed to the increase in technology and social media, as well as her ability to use social media to promote the museum and the publicity it receives. In recent years, more people have tuned in to social media sites and get updates on smartphones and other technology, making it easier than ever to convey a message digitally.

“That’s a major component because it can be shared and liked and reposted,” Crane said. “That’s one of the main reasons the museum has gotten so much exposure. I’m just trying to spread the news and let people know what’s going on with the museum. A lot of local people that come out are excited and happy about the constant positive news coming out of the museum. We’ve had a lot of publicity, and hopefully it will continue.”

For more information about the Aurora Fossil Museum or to see the Scholastic Magazine coverage, visit facebook.com/Aurora-Fossil-Museum or aurorafossilmuseum.org.