Borrow a telescope—for free!—from Brooklyn Public Library
Want to get a closer look at NYC's night skies? Can you really see anything in NYC anyway? Well, yes - you can see the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, double stars, Pleiades, Orion nebula, and more. (But not the sun!)
BPL cardholders can now check out a telescope—for free!—for three weeks at a time. Read the FAQs below to learn more, and use our online catalog to place a telescope on hold.
If you have specific questions, feel free to email us at telescopes@bklynlibrary.org
** Please note that new holds are suspended as of Feb 1, 2024 due to the very long wait list. Existing holds will still be filled **
Frequently Asked Questions
Any BPL cardholder over the age of 13 (Adult cardholder and Young Adult cardholder) with an active BPL account and no blocks or charges can check out a telescope. Young Adult cardholders will need a parent or guardian to sign their agreement.
Place a hold through the online catalog at this link: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/item?b=12463127
The telescope loan period is three weeks.
No. Because of their popularity, there is always a wait list that is typically over 6 months.
Telescopes can only be checked out and returned at the Reference Desk in the Society, Sciences & Technology (SST) Division on the second floor of Central Library (10 Grand Army Plaza). When you pick up the telescope, you will be required to sign several agreements and we will review the items in the telescope bag. The checkout process may take up to 15 minutes. Please also be aware that the telescope is bulky and more than 15 pounds.
Absolutely not. There is a risk of severe eye damage or blindness if you look directly at the sun with a telescope. Pointing the telescope at the sun can also damage the telescope’s optics.
No, telescopes must be checked out by the cardholder who placed the hold.
Telescopes may be checked out Mondays-Saturdays, up to thirty (30) minutes before closing. We are not able to arrange Sunday checkouts or returns.
You have seven days before the telescope is released to the next person waiting.
After 14 days past the due date, telescopes are considered lost. Your BPL account will be billed a Replacement Charge for the cost of the telescope ($199). You may be billed to cover any additional parts or accessories of the telescopes that are missing.
When the telescope or its missing parts are returned, all associated charges will be cleared from your account.
You will not be able to place holds on or check out telescopes or any other library materials from BPL.
Upcoming Events
Teen Time: Stargazers Astronomy Club
Are you a Stargazer?Are you interested in the the night sky, constellations, and using telescopes to see stars and planets? Are you excited about space exploration and the coming missions to the Moon and Mars? Want to see know more about what's up in the night sky?Then this…
All telescopes are courtesy of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York. See their Library Telescope page too.
