Public libraries across the North Country will be celebrating the Great North American Eclipse by hosting eclipse-themed events between now and April 15, 2024.

Libraries are also distributing free eclipse glasses to the public, while supplies last.

From guest lectures for adults to storytimes for preschoolers, libraries will be putting the eclipse front and center in the weeks leading up to the event. Some North Country libraries will even be hosting eclipse viewing parties the afternoon of April 8, providing activities for children and families, such as making pinhole cameras for safe viewing.

“Libraries are all about bringing the world (and in this case, the galaxy!) to their local communities,” says Katie St. Laurent, NCLS Youth Services and Outreach Consultant. “Our role is to provide people with the tools and information to have safe, educational, and fun experiences around this once in a lifetime event.”

For details about eclipse events at North Country libraries, residents should visit ncls.org/eclipse or contact their local library.

The distribution of glasses and eclipse information to libraries is led by the nationwide Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) Project, managed by the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. 

The North Country Library System is a support organization that delivers services to the 65 public libraries located in Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties. Through shared library services, cooperative purchasing, coordinated literacy campaigns, and training, NCLS maximizes sharing, creativity, and innovation to help improve the lives of North Country residents at home, at work, at school, and at play.