The SpeX Prism Library: 1000+ Low-resolution, Near-infrared Spectra of Ultracool M, L, T and Y Dwarfs

Abstract: The SpeX Prism Library (SPL) is a uniform compilation of low-resolution (R ~ 75-120), near-infrared (0.8-2.5 micron) spectra spanning a decade of observations with the IRTF SpeX spectrograph. Primarily containing ultracool M, L, T and Y dwarfs, this spectral library has been used in over 100 publications to date, facilitating a broad range of science on low mass stars, exoplanets, high redshift sources and instrument/survey design. I summarize the contents of the SPL and highlight a few of the key scientific results that have made use of this resource, as well as applications in education, outreach and art. I also outline the future plans of the SPL, which include a reanalysis of early data, better integration and dissemination of source and spectral metadata, conversion to Virtual Observatory formats, development of a Python software package for community analysis, and a design for a node-based visual programming platform that can facilitate citizen science and project-based learning in stellar spectroscopy.