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  7. Does Your Library Have a Library Telescope Program?

Tom Lynch

There are so many reasons, but I’ll keep this short and hope you provide your reasons.

In my mind the best reason is the potential for exposing people to a telescope who might not ever get such an opportunity. Who knows where that might lead?                   

Let me torture an old saying:                                                                            

Give a man a view through a telescope fish, and you inspire feed him for a day. Teach a man to use a telescope fish, and you inspire feed him for a lifetime.   

Here are my reasons:

  1. Giving people the confidence that comes with finding, on their own, an incredible view through a telescope.
  2. Family event - mom, dad and the kids can explore the night sky together without a big investment.
  3. Get kids to stop looking at their damn phones (or the TV or video games) and try looking at something real and incredible.
  4. A kid might be inspired to become an astronomer, or some other type of scientist. Better yet, inspired to be an amateur astronomer! Getting young people into astronomy is important, as I’m sure all amateur astronomers can see, most of us are not exactly in the prime of our lives.
  5. Giving an adult a new hobby to spend their free time. For me, stargazing is incredibly relaxing.
  6. Helping someone to decide if they want to buy a telescope. Learning what it entails before making the big purchase.
  7. Stargazing teaches patience. You know that all your plans for looking through a telescope can disappear as clouds roll in - despite the weather forecast for clear skies.
  8. Libraries engage more patrons leading to greater use of all the amazing library facilities and services. Since I started promoting Library Telescopes, I have been amazed by all the things that libraries do. Sure you can borrow books, but there are seemingly endless programs and services provided by the libraries I have dealt with. I honestly had no idea that libraries did so many things.

If you have more reasons, please pass them on to me.

A Library Telescope is a telescope owned by a library that can be borrowed just like a book. Usually it’s a modified Orion 4.5” StarBlast Reflector Telescope.

What better way to bring astronomy to the youth of today, than to give them access to a quality telescope? Having a parent, or other adult, borrow the telescope and amaze a child with views of the Moon or a planet, could make a lasting impression. Maybe even lead to a career in astronomy or some other science.

Adults can be amazed by views through a telescope, as well. I have no evidence on this, but judging from my experience doing sidewalk astronomy, at least 3/4 of the population has never looked at the Moon or a planet through a telescope. A Library Telescope program can make it happen.

Hundreds of libraries across the United States have Library Telescope programs that have been remarkably successful. A library can get a telescope program going for under $400. The telescope is modified in various ways so it is less likely to be damaged and parts are less likely to be lost.

Another part of a Library Telescope program is a Foster Parent (LTFP) for the telescope. This is someone with telescope experience that helps the library with their program. Could you be a LTFP?

Does Your Library Have a Library Telescope Program?  NO!?!?

You should fix that.

Ask your local library if they have a program. Better yet, ask 5 or 6 local libraries if they have a program. If they say no, explain the program to them and refer them to www.LibraryTelescope.org.                                                   

 

I want to say how excited I am to be a part of www.LibraryTelescope.org. I am grateful to Don Ficken and Marc Stowbridge for inviting me to participate in this great website.

I hope to do 1 or 2 postings a month on this blog and I sure hope someone enjoys reading them.

Our Goal

The Library Telescope Program fosters scientific literacy, stimulates interest in astronomy, and offers the awe and excitement of exploring the night sky to those who may have never looked through a telescope.

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