There's a lot of excitement about the total solar eclipse happening on April 8.  I'm not ready for it.  I don't even have a pair of those special solar eclipse glasses.   I found out where I could get a pair. I heard the public library in Conneaut, Ohio was distributing the special solar specs.   But there's a catch.  Visitors have to complete a scavenger hunt in order to receive a pair.  I think I can handle that.  I traveled to the Conneaut Library and was being greeted at the front desk by Amanda Latva, the Youth Services Coordinator.

"You came to the right place," she said.  "Let's get you set up.”   

I was given a piece of paper with questions about the solar eclipse. I must search the library to find the answers. 

”Good luck,” Amanda said as I began my quest.   

I'm not sure I can answer all ten questions. And I really want a pair of those glasses!  I'm in luck.  Two groups of AP-English students from Conneaut High School are also doing the scavenger hunt.  I'm going to follow them for a while until I get my confidence up.   

This is neat.  We are learning facts and figures about the total solar eclipse and having fun at the same time.   This library is going all-out for the solar eclipse.  Other activities will also take place before April 8.  They include eclipse story times for pre-schoolers, and eclipse artwork projects for teens, adults, and families. Everyone who participates gets a pair of solar eclipse glasses.

"We were really excited to figure out how we were going to distribute these in an educational way to make sure everyone is learning.  We wanted to make sure that there was access for all ages to get them. It wasn't just for kids.  It wasn't just for adults.  It was for everyone to have access to,” says Amanda.

The scavenger hunt and the other solar eclipse programs are for people who live in the Conneaut area including the areas of western Erie County in which the library serves.  The high school kids made quick work of the questions and left me in their dust. They already received their glasses and I'm still on the hunt.   Ahhh.  I'm finally finished.  All I have to do now is recite a fact I learned about the solar eclipse and then I'll get my glasses.  I’ll wear them with pride. I worked for them, had some fun, and learned about the solar phenomenon coming up in April.

The scavenger hunt will continue tomorrow at the Conneaut Public Library from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Keep in mind that the hunt is for people who live in the areas served by the library.  Stay tuned to Erie News Now to learn the many other places where glasses will be handed out.