Library Telescope Program

This program was started by New Hampshire Astronomical Society in 2008 when they started donating telescopes to New Hampshire libraries.  Under this program library patrons can check out a telescope (just like checking out a book) from the library.  New Hampshire Astronomical Society has placed telescopes in over 95 libraries across New Hampshire and also one in Port Townsend WA (2015).  This is now a national program - see www.librarytelescope.org

Island County Astronomical Society implemented this program in 2014 and since has placed nine telescopes in across all the libraries in Skagit County.   we are currently placing telescopes in Freeland, Coupeville and Camano libraries on Whidbey and Camano Islands.  We have also placed a telescope in the Conway School library (Grades K-8). 
We are also placing one in the Waterville library in Eastern Washington sponsored by our Douglas County member.

An Orion 4.5 inch Star Blast or Zhumell Z114 tabletop astronomical telescope was chosen for the program for its quality and portability.  A zoom eyepiece is used giving variable power.  This telescope has the ability to view the moon, planets, stars and deep sky objects such as galaxies, clusters and nebulas.

We wish to thank the Astronomical League!  Their annual library telescope raffle program, has supplies us with five of the telescopes in the above libraries, 

Libraries with Telescopes Donated by
Island County Astronomical Society

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Instructional Videos

New Hampshire Astronomical Society has a wonderful set of short instructional videos on transportation and use of the library telescope

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