Table of Contents
Borrow a telescope from your local library!
We’ve placed telescopes throughout the state of Massachusetts—at public libraries and institutions of higher learning—making telescopes accessible to all. Our library telescopes are compact and easy to use.
Borrowing is a great, no-risk way to discover if astronomy is the hobby for you.
Adopt-a-library telescope
177 libraries have received an AAS adopt-a-library telescope to date!
The goal of our adopt-a-library telescope program is to foster scientific literacy, stimulate an interest in astronomy, and provide people—who have never looked through a telescope—with the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery.
Placing the telescopes in local public libraries allows a greater general access to the telescope—since they are intended to be checked out of the library like a book.
Testimonials
Below are a few excerpts from recent letters received from happy libraries and event organizers because of successful events that Aldrich was invited to…
Dear Jim and the Aldrich Astronomical Society,
Thank you so much for your presentation to the Home school group! It was so interesting and fun, and everyone had a great time. Your passion for Space was infectious! We hope to see you again soon! Thanks so much
Dear Astronomical Society Members,
The grand opening celebration was a time to come together as a town and to say thanks to all of you who made not only the celebration but the entire project possible; without all of you working together and believing in this project our beautiful library would never exist.... It is because of you, because of your generosity of time, energy and financial resources that we are able to share our library, this sacred public place, with the entire town. So from the Friends and the Board of Trustees, a sincere thank you for a!! that you have done, and continue to do, for the Gladys E. Kelly Library.
Sincerely,
Jim,
Thanks so much for demonstrating the Library Telescope at our recent Turnip Festival. What a great day for the Eastham Library! It takes a village to praise a turnip, and our success would not have been possible without the help of many Turnip enthusiasts. Please know that I am eternally grateful for your involvement at the Fest and hope you'll consider coming again next year...
Find a Library Telescope near me
| Library Name | Address | City | State | Zip Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abington Public Library | 600 Gliniewicz Way | Abington | MA | 02351 |
| Acton Memorial Library | 486 Main Street | Acton | MA | 01720 |
| Acushnet Public Library | 232 Middle Road | Acushnet | MA | 02743-2020 |
| Amesbury Public Library | 149 Main St, | Amesbury | MA | 01913 |
| Jones Library | 43 Amity St, | Amherst | MA | 01002 |
| Memorial Hall Library | 2 N Main St, | Andover | MA | 01810 |
| Stevens Memorial Library | Memorial Drive | Ashburnham | MA | 01430 |
| Ashby Free Public Library | 812 Main Street | Ashby | MA | 01431 |
| Belding Memorial Library | 344 Main Street | Ashfield | MA | 01330 |
| Ashland Public Library | 66 Front St, | Ashland | MA | 01721 |
| Athol Public Library | 568 Main St, | Athol | MA | 01331 |
| Auburn Public Library | 369 Southbridge St, | Auburn | MA | 01501 |
| Ayer Library | 26 East Main Street | Ayer | MA | 01432 |
| Sturgis Library | 3090 Main St, | Barnstable | MA | 02630 |
| The Woods Memorial Library | 19 Pleasant St, | Barre | MA | 01005 |
| Clapp Memorial Library | 19 South Main Street, | Belchertown | MA | 01007 |
| Bellingham Public Library | 100 Blackstone St, | Bellingham | MA | 02019 |
| Belmont Public Library | 336 Concord Ave | Belmont | MA | 02478 |
| Bennington Free Library | 101 Silver St, | Bennington | VT | 05201 |
| Berkley Public Library | 2 N Main St, | Berkley | MA | 02779 |
| Berlin Public Library | 23 Carter St, | Berlin | MA | 01503 |
| Cushman Library | 28 Church Street | Bernardston | MA | 01337 |
| Beverly Public Library | 32 Essex St, | Beverly | MA | 01915 |
| Billerica Public Library | 15 Concord Rd, | Billerica | MA | 01821 |
| Blackstone Public Library | 86 Main St, | Blackstone | MA | 01504 |
| Porter Memorial Library | 87 Main St, | Blandford | MA | 01008 |
| Bolton Public Library | 738 Main St, | Bolton | MA | 01740 |
| Jonathan Bourne Public Library | 19 Sandwich Rd, | Bourne | MA | 02532 |
| Sargent Memorial Library | 427 Massachusetts Avenue | Boxborough | MA | 01719 |
| Boxford Public Library | 7A Spofford Rd, | Boxford | MA | 01921 |
| Brewster Ladies' Library | 1822 Main St, | Brewster | MA | 02631 |
| Bridgewater Public Library | 15 South Street | Bridgewater | MA | 02324 |
| Merrick Public Library | 2 Lincoln Street | Brookfield | MA | 01506 |
| Public Library of Brookline | 31 Pleasant St, | Brookline – Coolidge Corner | MA | 02446 |
| Public Library Of Brookline | 361 Washington St, | Brookline Village | MA | 02445 |
| Gleason Public Library | 22 Bedford Road | Carlisle | MA | 01741 |
| Tyler Memorial Library | 157 Main St, | Charlemont | MA | 01339 |
| Charlton Public Library | 40 Main St, | Charlton | MA | 01507 |
| Brookline Library ,Putterham Branch | 959 W Roxbury Pkwy, | Chestnut Hill | MA | 02467 |
| Bigelow Free Public Library | 54 Walnut St, | Clinton | MA | 01510 |
| Concord Free Public Library | 129 Main St, | Concord | MA | 01742 |
| Dedham Public Library | 43 Church St, | Dedham | MA | 02026 |
| M.G.Parker Memorial Library | 28 Arlington St, | Dracut | MA | 01826 |
| Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library | 40 Schofield Ave, | Dudley | MA | 01571 |
| Duxbury Free Library | 77 Alden St, | Duxbury | MA | 02332 |
| East Bridgewater Public Library | 32 Union St, | East Bridgewater | MA | 02333 |
| East Brookfield Public Library | 122 Connie Mack Drive | East Brookfield | MA | 01515 |
| East Longmeadow Public Library | 60 Center Square | East Longmeadow | MA | 01028 |
| Eastham Public Library | 3145, 190 Samoset Rd | Eastham | MA | 02642 |
| Erving Public Library | 17 Moore St, | Erving | MA | 01344 |
| Fitchburg Public Library | 610 Main Street, | Fitchburg | MA | 01420 |
| Boyden Library | 10 Bird St, | Foxborough | MA | 02035 |
| Framingham Public Library | 49 Lexington St, | Framingham | MA | 01702 |
| Franklin Public Library | 118 Main Street, | Franklin | MA | 02038 |
| Levi Heywood Memorial Library | 55 W Lynde St, | Gardner | MA | 01440 |
| Georgetown Peabody Library | 2 Maple Street | Georgetown | MA | 01833 |
| Grafton Public Library | 35 Grafton Common | Grafton | MA | 01519 |
| Taylor County Public Library | 200 Beech St, | Grafton | WV | 26354 |
| Groton Public Library | 99 Main Street | Groton | MA | 01450-1865 |
| Hampden Public Library | 625 Main Street | Hampden | MA | 01036-0129 |
| Taylor Memorial Library | 155 Main Street | Hancock | MA | 01237 |
| John Curtis Free Library | 534 Hanover St. | Hanover | MA | 02339 |
| Paige Memorial Library | 87 Petersham Rd, | Hardwick | MA | 01037 |
| Harvard Public Library | 4 Pond Rd, | Harvard | MA | 01451 |
| Hingham Public Library | 66 Leavitt St, | Hingham | MA | 02043 |
| Holland Public Library | 23 Sturbridge Road | Holland | MA | 01521 |
| Holliston Public Library | 752 Washington St, | Holliston | MA | 01746 |
| Hopkinton Public Library | 13 Main St, | Hopkinton | MA | 01748 |
| Hubbardston Public Library | 7 Main St # 8 | Hubbardston | MA | 01452 |
| Hudson Public Library | 3 Washington St, | Hudson | MA | 01749 |
| Ipswich Public Library | 25 N Main St, | Ipswich | MA | 01938 |
| Kingston Public Library | 6 Green Street | Kingston | MA | 02364-1441 |
| Thayer Memorial Library | 717 Main St, | Lancaster | MA | 01523 |
| Lawrence Public Library | 51 Lawrence St, | Lawrence | MA | 01841 |
| Leicester Public Library | 1 Paxton St, | Leicester | MA | 01524 |
| Leominster Public Library | 30 West St, | Leominster | MA | 01453 |
| Cary Memorial Library | 1874 Massachusetts Ave, | Lexington | MA | 02420 |
| Lincoln Public Library | 3 Bedford Rd, | Lincoln | MA | 01773 |
| Reuben Hoar Library | 98 Shattuck St, | Littleton | MA | 01460 |
| Richard Salter Storrs Library | 693 Longmeadow Street | Longmeadow | MA | 01106-2215 |
| Hubbard Memorial Library | 24 Center St, | Ludlow | MA | 01056 |
| Lunenburg Public Library | 1023 Massachusetts Ave, | Lunenburg | MA | 01462 |
| Marlborough Public Library | 35 W Main St, | Marlborough | MA | 01752 |
| Mattapoisett Free Public Library | 7 Barstow St, | Mattapoisett | MA | 02739 |
| Maynard Public Library | 77 Nason St, | Maynard | MA | 01754 |
| Medfield Public Library | 468 Main St, | Medfield | MA | 02052 |
| Medway Public Library | 26 High St, | Medway | MA | 26 High St, |
| Merrimac Public Library | 86 W Main St, | Merrimac | MA | 01860 |
| Nevins Memorial Library | 305 Broadway St. | Methuen | MA | 01844 |
| Milford Town Library | 80 Spruce St, | Milford | MA | 01757 |
| Millbury Public Library | 128 Elm St, | Millbury | MA | 01527 |
| Millis Public Library | 961 Main St, | Millis. | MA | 02054 |
| Milton Public Library | 476 Canton Ave, | Milton | MA | 02186 |
| Mystic & Noank Library | 40 Liberty Street | Mystic | CT | 06355-2418 |
| Nahant Public Library | 15 Pleasant St, | Nahant | MA | 01908 |
| Nantucket Atheneum | 3 India St, | Nantucket | MA | 02554 |
| Morse Institute Library | 14 E Central St, | Natick | MA | 01760 |
| Needham Free Public Library | 1139 Highland Avenue | Needham | MA | 02494 |
| Newburyport Public Library | 94 State St, | Newburyport | MA | 01950 |
| Newton Free Library | 330 Homer Street | Newton | MA | 02459-1429 |
| Norfolk Public Library | 139 Main St, | Norfolk | MA | 02056 |
| Stevens Memorial Library | 345 Main St, | North Andover | MA | 01845 |
| John G. McCullough Free Library | 2 Main St, | North Bennington | VT | 05257 |
| Haston Free Public Library | 161 N Main St, | North Brookfield | MA | 01535 |
| Ames Free Library | 53 Main St, | North Easton | MA | 02356 |
| Flint Memorial Library | 147 Park St, | North Reading | MA | 01864 |
| Forbes Library | 20 West Street | Northampton | MA | 01060 |
| Northborough Free Library | 34 Main St, | Northborough | MA | 01532 |
| Dickinson Memorial Library | 115 Main St, | Northfield | MA | 01360 |
| Oak Bluffs Public Library | 56r School St, | Oak Bluffs | MA | 02568 |
| Fobes Memorial Library | 4 Maple St # 9, | Oakham | MA | 01068 |
| Osterville Village Library | 43 Wianno Avenue | Osterville | MA | 02655-2028 |
| Oxford Free Public Library | 339 Main St, | Oxford | MA | 01540 |
| Richards Memorial Library | 44 Richards Ave, | Paxton | MA | 01612 |
| Pelham Library | 2 S Valley Rd, | Pelham | MA | 01002 |
| Pembroke Public Library | 142 Center St, | Pembroke | MA | 02359 |
| Petersham Memorial Library | 23 Common St, | Petersham | MA | 01366 |
| Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Ave, | Pittsfield | MA | 01201 |
| Princeton Public Library | 2 Town Hall Dr. | Princeton | MA | 01541 |
| Reading Public Library | 64 Middlesex Ave, | Reading | MA | 01867 |
| Revere Public Library | 179 Beach St, | Revere | MA | 02151 |
| Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library | 17 Constitution Way, | Rochester | MA | 02770 |
| Rockport Public Library | 17 School St, | Rockport | MA | 01966 |
| Phinehas S. Newton Library | 19 The Cmn, | Royalston | MA | 01368 |
| Rutland Free Public Library | 280 Main St, | Rutland | MA | 01543 |
| Saugus Public Library | 295 Central St, | Saugus | MA | 01906 |
| Sharon Public Library | 11 N Main St, | Sharon | MA | 02067 |
| Bushnell-Sage Library | 48 Main St, | Sheffield | MA | 01257 |
| Sherborn Library | 3 Sanger St, | Sherborn | MA | 01770 |
| Hazen Memorial Library | 3 Keady Way | Shirley | MA | 01464-2629 |
| Shrewsbury Public Library | 609 Main St, | Shrewsbury | MA | 01545 |
| M.N. Spear Memorial Library | 10 Cooleyville Rd, | Shutesbury | MA | 01072 |
| Somers Public Library | 2 Vision Blvd. | Somers | CT | 06071 |
| Somerville Public Library | 79 Highland Ave, | Somerville | MA | 02143 |
| South Hadley Public Library | 2 Canal Street | South Hadley | MA | 01075-2768 |
| Southborough Library | 25 Main St, | Southborough | MA | 01772 |
| Jacob Edwards Library | 236 Main St, | Southbridge | MA | 01550 |
| Southwick Public Library | 95 Feeding Hills Road | Southwick | MA | 01077 |
| Richard Sugden Library | 8 Pleasant St, | Spencer | MA | 01562 |
| Conant Free Public Library | 4 Meetinghouse Hill Rd, | Sterling | MA | 01564 |
| Stoneham Public Library | 431 Main St, | Stoneham | MA | 02180 |
| Randall Library | 19 Crescent St, | Stow | MA | 01775 |
| Joshua Hyde Public Library | 306 Main St, | Sturbridge | MA | 01566 |
| Goodnow Library | 21 Concord Rd. | Sudbury | MA | 01776 |
| Kent Memorial Library | 50 N Main St, | Suffield | CT | 06078 |
| Sutton Free Public Library | 4 Uxbridge Rd | Sutton | MA | 01590 |
| Swansea Public Library | 69 Main St, | Swansea | MA | 02777 |
| Topsfield Town Library | 1 South Common Street | Topsfield | MA | 01983 |
| Truro Public Library | 7 Standish Way | Truro | MA | 02666 |
| Tyngsborough Public Library | 25 Bryant Ln. | Tyngsborough | MA | 01879 |
| Lucius Beebe Memorial Library | 345 Main St, | Wakefield | MA | 01880 |
| Wales Public Library | 77 Main St, | Wales | MA | 01081 |
| Walpole Public Library | 143 School St, | Walpole | MA | 02081 |
| Warwick Free Public Library | 4 Hotel Rd, | Warwick | MA | 01378 |
| Watertown Free Public Library | 123 Main St, | Watertown | MA | 02472 |
| Wayland Free Public Library | 5 Concord Road | Wayland | MA | 01778-1901 |
| Gladys E. Kelly Public Library | 2699, 2 Lake St, | Webster | MA | 01570 |
| Wellesley Free Library | 530 Washington St, | Wellesley | MA | 02482 |
| Beaman Memorial Library | 8 Newton St, | West Boylston | MA | 01583 |
| Merriam Gilbert Public Library | 3 W Main St, | West Brookfield | MA | 01585 |
| G.A.R. Memorial Library | 490 Main Street | West Newbury | MA | 01985 |
| West Springfield Public Library | 200 Park St, | West Springfield | MA | 01089 |
| Westborough Public Library | 55 W Main St, | Westborough | MA | 01581 |
| J.V. Fletcher Library | 50 Main St, | Westford | MA | 01886 |
| Westhampton Public Library | 1 N Rd, | Westhampton | MA | 01027 |
| Forbush Memorial Library | 118 Main St, | Westminster | MA | 01473 |
| Weston Public Library | 87 School St, | Weston | MA | 02493 |
| S. White Dickinson Memorial Library | 202 Chestnut Plain Rd, | Whately | MA | 01093 |
| Whitinsville Social Library | 17 Church St, | Whitinsville | MA | 01588 |
| Wilbraham Public Library | 25 Crane Park Dr. | Wilbraham | MA | 01095 |
| Wilmington Public Library | 175 Middlesex Ave, | Wilmington | MA | 01887 |
| Beals Memorial Library | 50 Pleasant St, | Winchendon | MA | 01475 |
| Woods Hole Public Library | 581 Woods Hole Rd, | Woods Hole | MA | 02543 |
| Alden Library, Quinsigamond Community College | 670 W Boylston St, | Worcester | MA | 01606 |
| Goddard Library , Clark University | 950 Main St, | Worcester | MA | 01610 |
| Worcester Public Library | 3 Salem St, | Worcester | MA | 01608 |
| Worcester State University | 486 Chandler St, | Worcester | MA | 01602 |
Contact Information
If you’re having trouble finding a telescope near you or have questions, please email our Library Telescope Program Coordinator: John C. Root at jroot60@charter.net or telephone him directly at 508-753-4228 for more details about the program in Massachusetts
Acknowledgements
We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by the New Hampshire Astronomical Society who were the originators of the Library Telescope Program. They provided great mentorship for us while we established the program in Massachusetts and they now have over 90 telescopes in libraries across New Hampshire.