The County of Brant and County of Brant Public Library will offer Solar Eclipse Glasses!

The County of Brant Public Library and County of Brant are excited to announce they are giving away free solar eclipse glasses in preparation for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Thanks to a generous donation of glasses from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at McMaster University, the Library and County will provide four pairs of eclipse glasses per person on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Glasses are available at all Brant Library branches and County customer service offices in Paris and Burford starting Monday, March 4.

“We’re committed to providing educational resources and experiences that promote scientific literacy and inspire curiosity about the natural world,” says Gary Jermy, Director of Community Innovation at the Library. “Offering solar eclipse glasses allows us to facilitate a safe and enjoyable viewing experience of this remarkable event for the community.”

The Total Solar Eclipse on April 8 will be an extraordinary celestial event. Such occurrences provide rare opportunities for people to witness the wonder of the universe and deepen their understanding of astronomical phenomena. It’s an event the County will not see again until 2099.

Experience the wonder of the Total Solar Eclipse—safely! The following are important safety guidelines:

• Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.
• During any solar eclipse looking at the sun can result in damage to your retina and eyesight impairment due to solar UV and IR radiation.
• Use solar viewing glasses or solar filters on telescopes/binoculars to observe the eclipse safely.
• Regular sunglasses will not provide enough protection.  
• Supervise children to ensure they use eye protection and follow safety instructions.
•  Be cautious of counterfeit or damaged solar viewing glasses.
• Only use glasses that meet international safety standards (ISO 12312-2).

For more information about obtaining solar eclipse glasses, please connect with library staff at 519.442.2433 or visit the County of Brant Public Library Eclipse webpage and the County of Brant Eclipse webpage