Find a Library Telescope Program Near You
Library Telescope Programs help communities access beginner-friendly telescopes through participating libraries and organizations.
Photo courtesy of St. Louis County Library, St. Louis, MO.
Search Participating Programs
Choose a region below to search participating telescope lending programs.
After using the locator, return to this page to learn what to do next and how to prepare for your first telescope borrowing experience.
Found a Program? Here's What to Do Next
Each participating organization manages its own telescope lending program and may offer different borrowing procedures, astronomy resources, and community opportunities.
Check Availability
Confirm whether a telescope is currently available, checked out, reserved, or temporarily unavailable.
Review Local Rules
Ask about borrowing requirements, lending periods, age restrictions, reservations, and pickup procedures.
Ask What's Included
See what accessories, guides, and astronomy resources come with the telescope.
Look For Events
Ask whether the organization offers observing nights, workshops, or other astronomy opportunities.
Help Bring Astronomy to Your Community
If your community is not listed, a local library, school, park, volunteer group, or community organization may be able to help start a program.
Share With Your Library
Encourage your local library or community organization to explore starting a telescope-lending program.
Volunteer to Help
Community volunteers can support telescope lending, outreach, public events, and astronomy engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
These common questions can help you understand how participating telescope-lending programs typically work.
No. Telescope availability depends on local inventory, reservations, maintenance schedules, and program status. Contact the organization directly for current information.
Additional Resources
After locating a participating program, use these resources to prepare for borrowing, learn your telescope, and continue exploring the night sky.
Borrow a Telescope
Learn what to expect when checking out a telescope from a participating organization.
Get Started
Watch setup videos, review telescope parts, and prepare for your first observing session.
Continue Exploring
Discover skywatching guides, planning tools, special events, and beginner-friendly astronomy resources.
Volunteer Opportunities
Help expand astronomy access by supporting telescope programs and community observing experiences.
Ready to Begin Your Astronomy Adventure?
Find a participating library or organization near you, learn how borrowing works, and take the first step toward exploring the night sky. Whether you're observing the Moon for the first time or discovering distant galaxies, your astronomy journey can begin close to home.
Our Goal
The Library Telescope Program™ empowers libraries to spark curiosity, expand access to astronomy, and foster community engagement through hands-on telescope lending – putting the stars within reach for all.