With themed programming, catalog picks, and a Beanstack reading challenge, we’re preparing all March long for the total eclipse on April 8!
Register for our Beanstack challenge, log your reading, and be entered to win an age-appropriate prize!
Please note, in advance of the Solar Eclipse the library’s telescopes and bird watching kits will not be available for checkout from March 1 through April 8.
Eclipse glasses are now available at your community library with a limit of
4 per patron while supplies last. See below for availability:
| Beavercreek Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4001 |
| Cedarville Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4006 |
| Fairborn Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 878-9383 |
| Jamestown Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4005 |
| Winters-Bellbrook Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4004 |
| Xenia Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4000 |
| Yellow Springs Community Library | Out of Stock – (937) 352-4003 |
Programs
BEAVERCREEK
In the Shadow of the Moon
Wednesday, Mar 13 • 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Local resident Brian Woodruff will share his experiences and knowledge as a long-time eclipse chaser. Registration required.
Eclipse Creations
Saturday, Mar 30 • 3 – 4 p.m.
Join us for some science and art in preparation for the solar eclipse. Registration required. Ages 6-11.
Make Your Own Eclipse
Monday, Apr 1 • 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Join Mr. Tim for a story or two and a crafting session that will leave you with your own eclipse. Registration required. Ages 6-11
FAIRBORN
Eclipse Story Time with Ms. Kristen
Monday, Apr 8 • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us for a special S.T.E.M. story time with activities and experiments about the solar eclipse! For ages 3-5. No registration required.
JAMESTOWN
Armstrong Air and Space Museum presents
Wednesday, Mar 27 • 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Get ready for the solar eclipse with this presentation from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum.
XENIA @ REACH
Eclipse Storytime
Thursday, Apr 4 • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
The total solar eclipse will occur on April 8th. Celebrate the solar eclipse with a special storytime!
YELLOW SPRINGS
Eclipse Pinhole Viewing Box
Tuesday, Apr 2 • 3 – 4 p.m.
Gather Tuesday after school to make a pinhole viewing box in preparation of the solar eclipse.
Eclipse Fun with Diamond Art Kits
Friday, Apr 5 • 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Work on your own diamond art kit of the solar eclipse to get you excited about the eclipse coming on 8 April. Plan on finishing it at home.
Your Catalog
Total Solar Eclipse- April 8, 2024
We are all looking forward to the total solar eclipse coming in April, and I had a great time putting together this list of books for all ages about eclipses. For adults, I’ve selected narrative nonfiction- great storytelling! For kids, I’ve chosen more practical books that explain what an eclipse is and how it works. I hope you totally enjoy this total eclipse, but most of all, please do so safely. Please use eclipse glasses (the library is providing some at all locations while supplies last), and check for other safety concerns at NASA’s website. Be safe and enjoy!
Two solar eclipses. Two missing girls. Sixteen years ago a little girl was abducted during the darkness of a solar eclipse while her older sister Cassie was supposed to be watching her. She was never seen again. When a local girl goes missing just before the next big eclipse, Cassie – who has returned to her home town to care for her ailing grandmother – suspects the disappearance is connected to her sister: that whoever took Olive is still out there. But she needs to find a way to prove it, and time is running out.AFTER THE ECLIPSE
On a scorching July afternoon in 1878, at the dawn of the Gilded Age, the moon’s shadow descended on the American West, darkening skies from Montana Territory to Texas. This rare celestial event—a total solar eclipse—offered a priceless opportunity to solve some of the solar system’s most enduring riddles, and it prompted a clutch of enterprising scientists to brave the wild frontier in a grueling race to the Rocky Mountains. Acclaimed science journalist David Baron, long fascinated by eclipses, re-creates this epic tale of ambition, failure, and glory in a narrative that reveals as much about the historical trajectory of a striving young nation as it does about those scant three minutes when the blue sky blackened and stars appeared in mid-afternoon.American EclipsefemaleWith memorable accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, David Baron’s page-turning drama refracts nineteenth-century science through the mythologized age of the Wild West, revealing a history no less fierce and fantastical.American Eclipse
In 2017, over 200 million Americans witnessed the spectacular total eclipse of the Sun, and the 2024 eclipse is expected to draw even larger crowds. In anticipation of this upcoming event, this book takes us back in history over 150 years, telling the story of the nation’s first ever eclipse chasers. Our tale follows the chaotic journeys of scientists and amateur astronomers as they trekked across the western United States to view the rare phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. The fascinating story centers on the expeditions of the 1869 total eclipse, which took place during the turbulent age of the chimerical Planet Vulcan and Civil War Reconstruction. The protagonists—a motley crew featuring astronomical giants like Simon Newcomb and pioneering female astronomers like Maria Mitchell—were met with unanticipated dangers, mission-threatening accidents, and eccentric characters only the West could produce. Theirs is a story of astronomical proportions. Along the way, we will make several stops across the booming US railroad network, traveling from viewing sites as familiar as Des Moines, Iowa, to ones as distant and strange as newly acquired Alaska. From equipment failures and botched preparations to quicksand and apocalyptic ‘comets’, welcome to the wild, western world of solar eclipses.America’s First Eclipse Chasers
On August 21st, over one hundred million people will gather across the USA to witness the most-watched total solar eclipse in history. Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon, by popular science author Frank Close, describes the spellbinding allure of this beautiful natural phenomenon. The book explains why eclipses happen, reveals their role in history, literature and myth, and introduces us to eclipse chasers, who travel with ecstatic fervor to some of the most inaccessible places on the globe. The book also includes the author’s quest to solve a 3000-year-old mystery: how did the moon move backward during a total solar eclipse, as claimed in the Book of Joshua? Eclipse is also the story of how a teacher inspired the author, aged eight, to pursue a career in science and a love affair with eclipses that has taken him to a war zone in the Western Sahara, the South Pacific, and the African bush. The tale comes full circle with another eight-year old boy – the author’s grandson – at the 2017 great American eclipse. Readers of all ages will be drawn to this inspirational chronicle of the mesmerizing experience of total solar eclipse.Eclipse
Awe-inspiring, majestic, and always a little otherworldly, eclipses have captivated our imaginations for thousands of years. Whether plunged into darkness as the sun disappears in the middle of the day or enchanted by the moon’s blood red glow as a vast shadow creeps across its surface, our ancestors both feared and revered eclipses, seeking to understand these striking celestial events through both storytelling and science. In Eclipse, celebrated artist and author Kelsey Oseid explores the science and mystique of lunar and solar eclipses, from the myths of our ancestors to today. Did you know that in Chinese legends, solar eclipses were caused by dragons eating the sun? Or that the Norse people believed that a sky wolf chased away the moon? Oseid presents these rich historical stories alongside informative, accessible science to enrich your understanding: a solar eclipse only occurs during a new moon; a selenelion is when you can see the lunar eclipse in front of you and the sunset behind you; and the Mars Rovers have even taken photographs of eclipses from Mars. Filled with captivating information and vivid, colorful illustrations, Eclipse will delight and inspire astronomy lovers of all ages.Eclipse
Albert Einstein did nothing of note on May 29, 1919, yet that is when he became immortal. On that day, astronomer Arthur Eddington and his team observed a solar eclipse and found something extraordinary: gravity bends light, just as Einstein predicted. The finding confirmed the theory of general relativity, fundamentally changing our understanding of space and time. A century later, another group of astronomers is performing a similar experiment on a much larger scale. The Event Horizon Telescope, a globe-spanning array of radio dishes, is examining space surrounding Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. As Ron Cowen recounts, the foremost goal of the experiment is to determine whether Einstein was right on the details. Gravity lies at the heart of what we don’t know about quantum mechanics, but tantalizing possibilities for deeper insight are offered by black holes. By observing starlight wrapping around Sagittarius A*, the telescope will not only provide the first direct view of an event horizon—a black hole’s point of no return—but will also enable scientists to test Einstein’s theory under the most extreme conditions. Gravity’s Century shows how we got from the pivotal observations of the 1919 eclipse to the Event Horizon Telescope, and what is at stake today. Breaking down the physics in clear and approachable language, Cowen makes vivid how the quest to understand gravity is really the quest to comprehend the universe.Gravity’s Century
For centuries, alcohol has been used to celebrate the moon and the moon’s phases. Now, modern moon lovers everywhere can learn how to make the perfect lunar-inspired drink. All you need is a tried-and-true recipe, a bottle of your favorite booze, and a dark moonlit night. In Moon, Magic, Mixology, you’ll find 70 recipes for alcohol-based beverages that can be used to summon the moon for whatever you need. Each recipe is elevated by magical tools such as crystals, candles, herbs, aromatherapy, and meditations, helping you infuse magic into every drink. Whatever your moon desire, this book has you covered with full-color photos and tips on how to use your lunar libations to enhance your connection with the moon.Moon, Magic, Mixology
In 1919, British scientists led extraordinary expeditions to Brazil and Africa to test Albert Einstein’s revolutionary new theory of general relativity in what became the century’s most celebrated scientific experiment. The result ushered in a new era and made Einstein a global celebrity by confirming his dramatic prediction that the path of light rays would be bent by gravity. Today, Einstein’s theory is scientific fact. Yet the effort to “weigh light” by measuring the gravitational deflection of starlight during the May 29, 1919, solar eclipse has become clouded by myth and skepticism. Could Arthur Eddington and Frank Dyson have gotten the results they claimed? Did the pacifist Eddington falsify evidence to foster peace after a horrific war by validating the theory of a German antiwar campaigner? In No Shadow of a Doubt, Daniel Kennefick provides definitive answers by offering the most comprehensive and authoritative account of how expedition scientists overcame war, bad weather, and equipment problems to make the experiment a triumphant success. The reader follows Eddington on his voyage to Africa through his letters home, and delves with Dyson into how the complex experiment was accomplished, through his notes. Other characters include Howard Grubb, the brilliant Irishman who made the instruments; William Campbell, the American astronomer who confirmed the result; and Erwin Findlay-Freundlich, the German whose attempts to perform the test in Crimea were foiled by clouds and his arrest. By chronicling the expeditions and their enormous impact in greater detail than ever before, No Shadow of a Doubt reveals a story that is even richer and more exciting than previously known.No Shadow of A Doubt
Seeing a total solar eclipse is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, for many who have experienced totality, once-in-a-lifetime is simply not enough. They want more, and are willing to go to great lengths often at great expense to repeat the experience. What is it like to experience totality? What is it about the experience that motivates these eclipse chasers? Is there an eclipse chaser personality? Can eclipse chasing actually be described as an addiction? This book describes the people who dedicate their lives to chasing their dream.Total Addiction
Solar and lunar eclipses are sights to behold. But you don’t see them every day! Learn about the different kinds of eclipses. Then discover when they happen, how to watch them, and the cool things that can happen during an eclipse.Casting Shadows
After hearing about the total solar eclipse happening in two months, a boy makes a plan with his father to go see it. They drive to the perfect campsite, not wanting to miss the couple of minutes when the sun will be completely hidden by the moon. When the moment happens, being together makes it even more special. Based on a trip that author-illustrator Andy Rash took with his son to see the eclipse in August 2017, Eclipse is a heartfelt and playfully illustrated ode to seeking out unique adventures andsavoring the most special moments with the people you love. The book features maps of eclipses’ paths and scientific back matter about eclipses.Eclipse
The August 2017 solar eclipse is the chance of a lifetime for astronomer Shadia Habbal— years of planning come down to one moment of totality. Will everything go off as planned?Eclipse Chaser
This book looks at solar and lunar eclipses, providing background information about the sun, the moon and our planet. The book covers what an eclipse is, what eclipses can look like, how they happen, the effects on wildlife, what people thought of eclipses in the past, how they are studied today, and about eclipses on other planets. A fun activity is provided along with advice on viewing eclipses. Beautiful photographs and simple text help to engage readers and aid their understanding.Eclipses
Sky gazers experience a total solar eclipse in this descriptive picture book about the wonders of this phenomenon.A Few Beautiful Minutes
With this highly visual guide to observing the sky with the naked eye, kids aged 9-14 will delve into the science behind what they see.Sky Gazing
Solar and lunar eclipses have been a source of fascination since ancient times. Early cultures created myths to explain what was happening, ranging from animals eating the celestial bodies to the sun leaving the sky in anger. Today, thanks to advancements in science, we understand the principles behind these astronomical events. However, this understanding has not diminished our awe and fascination. Through engaging, age-appropriate text, augmented by informative sidebars and detailed graphic organizers,this volume introduces readers to the science behind solar and lunar eclipses. Stunning full-color photographs also highlight the beauty of these natural phenomena.What Happens During An Eclipse?
Just in time for the third North American total solar eclipse of the twenty-first century, this book explains how to safely observe solar eclipses, how long eclipses last, and why they result in a blackout period during the day. Young armchair astronomers and astronauts will be inspired by the wonders of outer space and what exists beyond our atmosphere as they learn more about the moon, the sun, and our earth. What really happens during a solar eclipse and how does it affect the energy in our atmosphere? You’ll find the most up-to-date eclipse information in this exciting new book.What Is A Solar Eclipse?
Explains what solar and lunar eclipses are and reveals how and when they occur.What Is An Eclipse?