Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that April 8^th is a special day for Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas, and the planet.   At exactly 1:50 P.M. (and six seconds), the best show on earth will begin here–on campus and in Russellville—and will last for four minutes and eleven seconds.

Protect your eyeballs for the whole show by picking up special eclipse glasses available at the Ross Pendergraft Library’s Research Help Desk, located on the first floor.

Glasses are available on a first come, first serve basis until they are gone.  Every student, faculty, and staff member at ATU can receive one pair of free glasses with a valid ATU ID card.  Each pair comes with a special case, protecting your glasses and advertising the time and date of the eclipse.

Provided courtesy of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, the glasses conform to the ISO 12312-2 standard for direct observation of the sun.  Except during the totality phase of a solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without special eye protection certified for this use.  Sunglasses are not enough!  See NASA’s guidelines for safely viewing the solar eclipse for more information.

Before the eclipse, be sure to take advantage of the events and activities around campus and the community in the days leading up to April 8^th by reading all about them here: https://www.arkansastechnews.com/your-guide-to-eclipse-events-and-preparation-at-atu/

The Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center will have adjusted hours in the days leading up to, during, and after the eclipse:

• Friday, April 5^th – CLOSED At 12:00 P.M. (Noon)

• Saturday, April 6^th – CLOSED

• Sunday, April 7^th  – CLOSED

• Monday April 8^th – CLOSED

• Tuesday, April 9^th: OPENING At 12:00 P.M. (Noon)

Normal hours resume on Wednesday, April 10th.

We will still offer virtual services by phone, email, text, or chat during normal business hours (8:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M.) on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.  You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more events and changes to our hours over the semester, including our final exam hours.

Stay safe and enjoy the Great American Eclipse of 2024!