About The Program

The Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri ("ASEM") Library Telescope Program has partnered with the St Charles City - County Library District to provide functional, easy-to-use telescopes for the general public to borrow.  We hope that people who have never looked through a telescope now have the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery. The program takes advantage of the public library system infrastructure to place telescopes in local public libraries for circulation just like a book. Library patrons age eighteen-years or older with a valid Library card are able to check out a telescope for seven days. 

ASEM uses the Orion StarBlast 4.5" telescope for its program.  Each telescope is modified by ASEM to be more durable and patron friendly and is equipped with accessories to help library patrons explore the night sky, including a user’s manual, constellation guide, Moon map, and night light.

ASEM also provides the libraries with ongoing educational support and telescope maintenance.  Throughout the year, libraries host star parties – telescope viewing sessions where the public can gather to view the night skies through a number of telescopes operated by ASEM members.

• Augusta (1 telescope)
• Boone Trail (1 telescope)
  
• Corporate Parkway Branch (1 telescope)
• Deer Run Branch (2 telescopes)
• Discovery Village (1 telescope)
  
• Kathryn Linnenmann Branch (2 telescopes)
• Kisker Road Branch (2 telescopes)
• McClay Road Branch (2 telescopes)
• Middendorf-Kredell Branch (3 telescopes)
• Spencer Road Branch (3 telescopes)
• Winghaven (1 telescope)
  

• Treat it like your child -
  
• Buckle up in your car when transporting
  
• Never grab by the throat (eyepiece or focuser), always pick up and carry from the bottom.
• Don't poke your fingers in the "eyes" (Optics - eyepiece or anything 'glass'). Don't even clean the 'eyes'.
  
• Don't be a doctor, if something is not right, take it back to the Library or contact us at LIBRARYSCOPES.  We are glad to fix it!
• Don't leave un-attended by an adult (particularly outside in the daytime).  NOT for use as a solar telescope!
  
• Please make sure to turn OFF the Finder Scope to save the battery when you are finished.

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In conjunction with the 2017 total solar eclipse, ASEM and SLAS assisted the libraries in obtaining 12 Galileo Solar Scopes, for use by Library personnel (riding piggyback on the LIBRARY SCOPE).  These are not available for public check-out.

              (click on images to enlarge)

FOR TEACHERS ONLY:  ASEM has provided ONE SUNSPOTTER solar telescope that is very easy and safe to use and share views with students.  This can be used for solar eclipses as well as for viewing LARGE sunspots (Earth-sized or greater). Contrast is even sharper if skies are truly clear and bright. For current sunspots, check with www.spaceweather.com  (see "Daily Sun", shown on left margin of that web page).  Teachers can check this small scope out at the SPENCER ROAD library.