Columbus libraries gave away 100,000 solar eclipse glasses, now out of stock

The Columbus Metropolitan Library announced Thursday that it handed out all of its 100,000 protective solar eclipse glasses, and they are now officially out of stock.

That's enough glasses for around 1/9 of Columbus's population, gone just ten days after the library started handing them out on March 18.

"I think many of us even thought (we might be out) sooner," library spokesperson Ben Zenitsky said.

Some of the library's locations were out almost immediately, and long lines formed at the Dublin, Hilliard and Gahanna locations on the first day of giveaways, Zenitsky said.

The library system will not be purchasing any new glasses, so you'll need to get them from another source in Columbus . Gazing at the eclipse with your eyes, a telescope, a camera or binoculars without protection will "instantly cause severe eye injury," according to NASA .

Zenitsky said he was unsure if the giveaway resulted in more people using the library, but he hoped it did.

"We are a library, after all, and we hope that people come in and get a library card if they don't already have one. We have lots of great books about the sun and the moon and the stars and eclipses for readers of all ages," he said.

The library is also hosting a watch party with COSI at its main downtown branch on Grant Avenue on April 8, the day of the eclipse, from 1-4 p.m.

More: Solar Eclipse 2024: What's weather outlook across Ohio for April 8?

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus libraries gave away 100,000 solar eclipse glasses, now out of stock