Alfred University Libraries, Box of Books to host free drawings for EnChroma glasses

photos of cheerleaders, one as a normal person would see, the other as a person with color blindness would see — Images above show Alfred University cheerleaders as a person with normal eyesight would see them (top) and how they would appear to someone with color blindness (bottom). EnChroma, a maker of eyewear that helps people with color blindness, has provided two sets of glasses each to Alfred University Libraries and the Box of Books public library in Alfred to give away as part of the observance of Color Blindness Awareness Month, in September.

Alfred University Libraries, in partnership with the Alfred Box of Books public library, is hosting an event in observance of September as Color Blindness Awareness Month, in which four pairs of EnChroma glasses will be given away.

Two pairs each of adult-sized EnChroma glasses, which are designed to help people with color blindness, will be raffled off: two by Alfred University Libraries and two the Box of Books library. EnChroma, the Berkeley, CA, company co-founded by Alfred University alumnus Don McPherson ’84 M.S., ’88 PhD, donated the glasses that will be raffled off.

People can register for the free drawings—hosted by Alfred University Libraries and the Box of Books—beginning immediately. Registration for the drawings will be held in person at Herrick Memorial Library and Samuel R. Scholes Library on the Alfred University campus and at the Box of Books library on Main Street, through the end of September. The libraries will host interactive EnChroma displays which provide information on color blindness and how the glasses were developed. Anyone who visits the displays—students and their families, staff, faculty, alumni, local community members—can enter to win.

There will be two drawings. The drawing hosted by Alfred University for each of its two pairs of glasses will be held during the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Sept. 28. Raffle tickets will be available at the game beginning at 1 p.m., with the drawing held at halftime. Box of Books will hold its drawing at the end of the month and notify winners by Oct. 1.

Entrants do not have to be present for either drawing; out-of-town winners will have their prize mailed to them.

Also, during Homecoming/Family Weekend, visitors can try on one of the pairs from the libraries’ circulating collection of EnChroma glasses. Herrick and Scholes libraries each have 10 pairs of the glasses, which can be checked out and borrowed for up to seven days.

Following are the hours of operation of Herrick, Scholes and the Box of Books libraries during Homecoming/Family Weekend:

Friday, September 27: Herrick: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Alfred Box of Books: 10am-5pm

Saturday, September 28 7: Herrick: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Alfred Box of Books: Closed.

EnChroma was co-founded in 2010 by Don McPherson, a co-inventor of the EnChroma lens technology. McPherson, who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in glass science engineering from Alfred University, serves as EnChroma’s chief science officer.