Library Telescope Program

The Concept

The Library Telescope Program places telescopes in local public libraries. As of February 2023, there are 891 libraries in 6 countries participating in the program. Its mission is to allow public access to telescopes, which can be checked out just like a book. Typically, a local astronomy club member acts as a foster parent to the scope. The West Valley Astronomy Club has placed telescopes in the following libraries, and with more awareness this list is growing. Don’t make the mistake of buying a cheap telescope, contact your library to check out a great telescope!

Location	# Scopes	Address	Website
El Mirage Library	1	13513 N El Mirage Rd, El Mirage, AZ 85335	webiste
Glendale Public Library	1	19055 N. 57th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85308	website
Goodyear Georgia T. Lord Library	3	1900 N Civic Sq. Goodyear, AZ 85395	website
Peoria Public Main Library	1	8463 W Monroe St, Peoria, AZ 85345	website
Peoria Sunrise Mountain Library	Call main	21109 N 98th Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382	website
Surprise Asante Library	1	16755 W Vereda Solana Dr, Surprise, AZ 85387	website
Surprise Regional Library	6	16089 N Bullard Ave, Surprise, AZ 85374	website
White Tank Library	1	20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ 85355	website
Total # of telescopes	14

The Telescope

The Library Telescope Program provides a 4.5-inch telescope, plus support materials available for checkout. The telescope is easy to use and is robust. There is nothing to assemble. It has a wooden base, not the usual spindly tripod legs. The telescope is of manageable size, but has a relatively large optical tube. This means that the Moon and deep sky objects will show far more detail than one could see with the common “beginners” telescopes. It also has a large field of view that allows the object to stay in the eyepiece longer. This is a quality instrument, reviewed by a number of astronomical publications and found quite worthy.

West Valley – Phoenix Metropolitan Area

In November 2022 and February 2023 the West Valley Astronomy Club purchased and donated telescopes to the Surprise and Peoria main libraries. This launched the program in these two communities.

Launching a Library Telescope Program

More information about starting a program is available at The Library Telescope Program website

Contact the West Valley Astronomy Club if you would like your library to participate in the Library Telescope Program.

Surprise Asante Library received their first telescope on April 25, 2023: (Left to Right): Kathryn Smithyman, City Librarian for Surprise, Bambi Shelby, Branch Manager for Asante Library, John Hiatt West Valley Astronomy Club Secretary and Outreach Coordinator, Bob Randle West Valley Astronomy Club President

What is the Purpose of the Library Telescope Program?

My thoughts go back over the past 10 years or so…

When helping at an observatory in Colorado, and then with star parties here in Arizona, I often get this question…

My child is really into (space/astronomy/science) – what’s the best telescope to buy to encourage this interest?

And often the parent is interested as well.

My stock answer was “there is no perfect telescope”.

Or, I might say that the “best telescope is the one that gets used”.

Then I might ask a few questions and suggest something like a 6″ dob.

But I was never really happy with that answer.

And I could tell from the deer in the headlights expressions that it was confusing for most parents.

Then they might ask “how much does that cost?”

I never really had a good answer, but warned them not to buy a cheap one that would end up in a closet.

That they understood!

This started to bother me, especially when meeting parents that might not be able to afford even a modest telescope.

Then I heard about and started thinking about the Library Telescope Program.

The light bulb went off, and for me the Library Telescope was the answer to that question.

Now I answer that the best telescope for a child and family that is into space/astronomy/science

is the one you can check out for FREE at your public library.

Parents are very happy with that answer – and all are delighted to find out that such a wonderful thing exists!

For me, this is the purpose of the library telescope program.

To help families get a good beginners telescope to learn and explore with at home, without having to buy one.

John Hiatt – West Valley Astronomy Club Outreach