P.E.I. libraries set sights on more telescopes for amateur stargazers

Montague residents with their sights on the stars can nowborrowa telescope from their local library to assist them in their hobby.

The Sidewalk Astronomers of Charlottetown a group of amateur astronomers hasoffered to house a telescope at the Montague Rotary Library.

KrystalDionne, branch technician, said the library beganloaning the instrument out a few weeks ago with a dozen on the waiting list. People can borrow the telescope for aweek.

• P.E.I.'s library telescope in high demand

The telescope comes with instruction manuals, books and solar maps. As well, astudent from UPEI'sphysics department will be at the library in January to teach people how to use the telescope.

Dionne said it's great to give more communities access to the technology.

"If there's a book housed here at the Montague library, and someone at the Tignish branch wants to read it, I can send that off to them in the mail," she said."But the telescopes, we don't really have that option."

She said a patron in Montague could put a hold on a telescope in Charlottetown, but they would beresponsible for picking it up and returning it. Adding a telescope to Montague's library simplifies the process.

"I think it's a wonderful thing to have them at more libraries across the Island so more communities have access to it."

Dionnesaid the library may start anastronomy program or club in the future.

• Second telescope coming to P.E.I. Public Library for amateur astronomers

The public library inCharlottetown recently started housing a second telescope, and the Cornwall and Stratford public libraries will soon begin loaning out the telescopes they have.

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