OC Library to start lending Telescopes

The Oconee County Public Library will start lending telescopes to patrons so they can read the night sky. Library cardholders 18 years or older with a valid photo I.D. can check-out the Orion Star Blast 4.5-inch telescopes at the main library in Walhalla starting in early February. The idea of going to your local library to borrow a telescope may seem a little strange, but Youth Services Librarian Stacie Powell thinks telescopes and libraries are a good fit. “We are all about learning,” Powell said. “My goal with the telescope lending program is to place a significant emphasis on science and technology. By having these telescopes we’re helping foster scientific literacy and stimulate interest in astronomy.” Powell adds, “For most families, purchasing a telescope is a large investment and it may not be something they use very often. By providing these telescopes to our public for free we are allowing children and families who may have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery without having to invest a lot of money.” What if you have never used a telescope before? Stacie Powell says the Orion Star Blast was chosen specifically because it is powerful but also very user-friendly. “The telescope comes ready for viewing – there is nothing to assemble. The telescope is of manageable size but has a relatively large optical tube. This means that the Moon and deep sky objects will show far more detail than one could see with the common beginner’s telescope. It also has a large field of view that allows the object to stay in the eyepiece longer.” The library wants borrowers to have all the equipment they would need to properly enjoy a night-viewing experience. Therefore, with each telescope comes a picnic blanket, a headlamp to allow for reading in the dark, a moon map, an introductory to the night sky book, and lens cleaner. The telescope kit can be checked out for seven days with one renewal if no one else is on the waiting list for the telescope. This wonderful opportunity for budding astronomers was made possible by a LSTA grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the State Library of South Carolina. For more details about borrowing a telescope, call 864-638-4133.