Library Telescope Lending Program

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Leon County Public Library’s Telescope Lending Program opens up the night skies to stargazers and future astronomers! Library cardholders may check out a telescope for up to a week at a time at no cost. Each telescope comes with instructions and a current sky map for a week. A result of the Library’s strong partnership with the Tallahassee Astronomical Society and the Friends of the Library, the Telescope Lending Program offers a new service to Leon County citizens that has become immensely popular among Library patrons in just its first few months of operation. Since the program was initiated in November 2016, the Library’s six telescopes have been checked out 51 times, and there are currently 69 reserve requests, which are filled in the order placed as the telescopes are returned to the libraries. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the program, the Library has already ordered four more telescopes to help meet demand. The Leon County Public Library’s Telescope Lending Program has helped to encourage citizens’ interest in educational topics in STEM fields, and has increased the utilization of other library materials about astronomy.