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Perry Public Library
Great North American Eclipse Edition 2024
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The Perry Public Library is your go-to place for
FREE solar eclipse glasses, educational programs, commemorative crafts, and more.
Solar Eclipse with Gene Gordon, Tues. March 19th @ 2 & 5 pm
NASA HUNCH mentor and retired science teacher, Gene Gordon, is coming to the Perry Public Library to tell us about the science behind the upcoming Great North American Eclipse and what to expect during this once in a lifetime experience.
This all-ages presentation is hosted by Perry Public Library and sponsored in part by Friends of Perry Public Library and Eric Szucs. Attendees at each show will receive 2 pairs of solar eclipse glasses.
There will be two presentations on March 19, 2024. Gordon will present the same information at both the 2 pm and 5 pm shows, so please register for only one show. Seats are limited, so please register all that plan to accompany you. A wait-list will be used to fill last minute cancellations, so be sure to include your email and check it on the morning of the event.
Register online or call the library at 585-237-2243.
Click HERE to register for the 2pm show. Click HERE to register for the 5pm show.
SPEND YOUR APRIL BREAK WITH US
Mon. 4/1 Drop-in & Pick Up A DIY Solar Cooker S'more Kit
Drop by the library between 11am and 8pm to pick up all the supplies you need to make a backyard solar cooker. All materials to assemble 1 cardboard box solar cooker, 4 s'mores, and includes 4 pairs of solar eclipse glasses. (1 per family while supplies last)
Tues. 4/2 @ 4:30-6pm Solar Eclipse Commemorative Painting
Drop in between 4:30 and 6 pm to paint a canvas to remember this historic event and also serve as a keepsake holder for your solar eclipse glasses and mementos. This is an all ages event, but those under 13 years old will require adult assistance.
Wed. 4/3 @ 11:30am Solar Eclipse Storytime
Hear stories about the eclipse and stay and play in a pop-up spaceship afterwards with your storytime friends or check out one of the fantastic new books on Space. (2-10 years)
Thurs. 4/4 ALL Day
We will have a new scavenger hunt up. This one is filled with facts and fun! Stop in anytime on Thursday to receive a pair of solar eclipse glasses as your reward for doing a stellar job!
Fri. 4/5 & Sat. 4/6
We will be giving away the last of the glasses. Two per person, while supplies last.
All Week Long
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE April 8, 2024
Prepare for a truly transformative event
The solar eclipse is coming and it is being called the “single biggest mass travel event in the USA”. The last total solar eclipse was in 1925, 99 years ago. The next solar eclipse in our area will be in 2144, 120 years from now. It has been described as a moment in time that will “evoke a sense of wonder and awe” and be a “truly transformative event.”
The Path of Totality
The path of totality is the line along the Earth where the Moon will be completely blocking out the sun. It is a narrow path that is only about 115 miles wide and will only go through 13 US states. It is quite literally where EVERYONE will want to be on April 8th from 3:42 pm until 8:52 pm and about ½ of the US population lives within 250 miles of the path of totality. Based on data from the 2017 eclipse, they are expecting between 375,000 – 500,000 visitors to our area. That’s a lot of people!
We are so very fortunate to live in that path and do not need to make travel plans, but you should still consider planning ahead for it. More people to the area means more people in stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc., and when it is all over in our area at 4 pm, there will be a mass exodus creating a period of extreme travel congestion.
We have put together some tips and things to think about to help you prepare for it all.
Preparedness tips
Before Thursday, April 4, 2024
- Go grocery shopping.
- Fill your car up with gas.
- Charge your cell phone.
- Get a little cash on hand.
- Pick up prescriptions that are waiting for you.
- Stock up on essentials now so you are not impacted by high demand.
- Change doctors and other appointments to another day.
- Run any errands.
Bonus, doing these things ahead of time helps local businesses too. They will have enough stock, staff, and time to prepare for the visitors coming to the area if the locals go before Thursday.
Safety tips
- Know when it is appropriate to call 911 (true emergencies) and have the non-emergency phone number for your local Dispatch Center programmed into your phone ahead of time. The non-emergency phone number for Wyoming County Deputy Sheriff is (585) 786-8989.
- Major roadways are expected to be extraordinarily congested, and for our area in particular, the roads in between Buffalo and Rochester. Plan on staying wherever you are for a few hours after the eclipse; don’t leave right after it is over.
- Play it safe. With congested roads, emergency services will have a harder time getting anywhere. For example, this may not be a good time to burn brush or set off fireworks.
- Public utilities will be in greater demand, so only use what you need to take pressure off the public utility systems during that time and reduce stress on our resources. A lot of campgrounds have opened early and non-traditional overnight venues have popped up to host guests just for the weekend. This will increase the demand for water and electricity our area.
- Make a plan with family/friends on how to communicate or where to meet if you do go somewhere and get separated or lose contact.
- #TakeTuesdayToo! https://vimeo.com/852821858
Keep in mind that there is no extra money for emergency management systems for this natural event and no one is in charge of the eclipse. Stay safe, stay home.
Experience tips
- Decide if you want a “Me or We” experience.
- Do you want to experience it in a crowd with mass emotions, loud "oohs" and "aahhs", and possible sobbing?
- Do you want to be with just a small group? All the same things, just quieter, more intimate.
- You will want to remember this day; it is a big moment in time! Commemorate the day with pictures, special clothes, or themed snacks. Don’t forget to record your memories.
- Use ISO approved solar viewing glasses. Get yours from the library. They are free while supplies last and going fast!
- Know exactly where to look and at what time. Go to https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/horizontal-coordinate-system.html to learn more.
We have a ton of great tips to prepare for the eclipse and will post them on our social media outlets over the next couple of weeks. There will also be a complete list on our webpage in the coming days.
Stay tuned or stop in to the library to be totally prepared for April 8th.
Resources
- Wyoming County Eclipse https://www.gowyomingcountyny.com/solar-eclipse-2024
- Get exact details for your location and watch an animation of what this once in a lifetime event will look like at https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8.
- Make sure you glasses are ISO certified at https://eclipse.aas.org/resources
- https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/resources/
- https://rochestereclipse2024.org/
- https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/
- Eclipse Simulator https://eclipse2024.org/
Did you know?
The Great North American Eclipse
- On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
- A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and completely blocks the face of the Sun.
- A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where you can momentarily remove your ECLIPSE GLASSES (not the same as ordinary sunglasses) to see the Moon is completely blocking the Sun.
Eclipse Glasses
- To watch a solar eclipse, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times to protect your eyes.
- Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
- Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and must comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Watch out for phony/counterfeit glasses. Look for the ISO label.
- The Perry Public Library will be giving away FREE ISO 2312-2 solar eclipse glasses on Tuesdays in March and at March solar eclipse library programs. (Two per person, while supplies last.)
Perry Public Library
Email: perrylibrarydirector@owwl.org
Website: perry.owwl.org
Location: 70 North Main Street, Perry, NY, USA
Phone: 585-237-2243
Facebook: facebook.com/PerryNYLibrary