Sandra Underwood knew she would get asked the question on where residents in Jasper could pick up a pair of solar eclipse-certified glasses to view Saturday’s astronomical extravaganza.

But the Jasper Public Library doesn’t have them available for Saturday’s viewing, and the Walmart store in the city also does not have them in stock.

“We knew we’d have these questions, and we are telling people they can go to Walmart.com,” said Underwood. “It might be a little late now.”

Indeed, it is a bit of a scramble for people hoping to view the partial solar eclipse on Saturday to obtain the correct glasses. Specialized shipping is still available at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, but time is running short.

There is a lot at stake for viewing the moon passing in front of the sun on Saturday. Without the proper eyewear, the powerful rays could literally burn someone’s retina. According to NASA, viewing the sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will “instantly cause severe eye injury.”

Eclipse glasses are ISO 12312-2 certified. They are supposed to include the ISO logo and manufacturer’s information on the glasses. Glasses are also not supposed to have any scratches on them.

So where do you go to get the special eyewear? A host of Alabama libraries have supplies, if you are unable to purchase them online.

Librarians are encouraging the public to call this week and check on supplies.

“We are asking Birmingham residents to call their local library,” said Heather McWilliams, a librarian at the Central Library’s Youth Department. “There is a limited amount at each of the locations.”

Many libraries throughout the U.S. will give giving away free pairs of approved glasses to view the eclipse safely. The glasses are provided by the Space Science Institute through funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. A total of 5 million glasses will be distributed to 10,000 libraries, and the organization is encouraging librarians to register to participate.

An online map shows which libraries have them.

But not all of the libraries listed on the map will have the glasses in stock for Saturday’s event, an annual solar eclipse that will be viewable throughout Alabama. They will instead have 2,000 glasses available ahead of the April 8, 2024, eclipse, according to Underwood.

In Arab, the public library is advertising that they are giving out two glasses per family. Glasses are also available at the Ashland and Lineville libraries.

At New Hope Library in North Alabama, the glasses will be issued to visitors who attend a space-themed party accommodating the solar eclipse on Saturday beginning around 10:30 a.m.

“We’ll have those glasses while supplies last,” said Diane Carroll, the library’s branch manager.

Libraries are not the only places that will have glasses. Universities are advertising solar eclipse viewing gatherings on Saturday, including the University of Alabama at Huntsville where a viewing party will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Charger Union Lawn (breezeway). Events include a solar viewing tent, Galileoscopes with sun funnels, and solar viewers. Planners are requesting people RSVP on Facebook.