BLUE EARTH — The Great American Eclipse is the first time that North America will see a solar eclipse in almost 40 years, and the Blue Earth Community Library is not letting this opportunity go to waste.

On Monday, North America will experience a solar eclipse, in which the moon covers the sun. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible within the continental United States was Feb. 26, 1979, with the next North American solar eclipse predicted to be April 8, 2024.

Depending on where you are in North America, you may see a total solar eclipse, where the moon completely covers the sun, or a partial eclipse. Minnesotans will witness a partial solar eclipse, where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk.

To celebrate this rare occurrence, the Blue Earth Community Library is hosting a solar eclipse watching event at Putnam Park in Blue Earth.

Library director Eva Gaydon said the idea to hold the event came about when the library received a grant from the Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning and its Science-Technology Activities and Resources Library Education Network (STAR_Net). From the grant, the library received 1,000 safety glasses that can be worn during the solar eclipse.

People looking to witness the solar eclipse at Putnam Park will be able to participate in solar eclipse-themed games and crafts. There also will be a solar eclipse-themed lunch and a painted backdrop of the solar eclipse landscape that people can take photos in front of.

The solar eclipse glasses are available at the Blue Earth Area Library and will be given out at the event. According to Gaydon, about 800 glasses have already been given out.

“Every call [to the library] is usually someone wanting glasses, which is great,” Gaydon said. “People are excited.”

The event will start at 11 a.m. Monday at Putnam Park, with the viewing of the eclipse tentatively scheduled from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information or to pick up a pair of solar eclipse glasses, contact the Blue Earth Community Library at (507) 526-5012.