By Sunday, several local libraries that had stocked up on thousands of free eclipse-viewing glasses during the week had run out as residents prepared for a solar eclipse that was set to darken southeastern Connecticut’s skies Monday.

Others by Sunday had already made, or would shortly be embarking on, their trips to go watch the celestial event from northern parts of the U.S., or in Canada.

Residents in this region are expected to see just under 90% totality of the solar eclipse, with the moon starting to cross the sun at 2:14 p.m. and then covering most of the sun at 3:28. It will then start to move away, with the eclipse expected to end by 4:28 p.m.

For those looking to shield their eyes from the harmful UV rays, the glasses had become a sought-after commodity. Members of several local Facebook forums commented Sunday afternoon that they were still searching. Others who’d already gotten their glasses informed them where to look.

“The number one question today has been solar eclipse glasses,” librarian Emily Sheehan said from the information desk of the Groton Public Library Sunday. “People are excited.”

The library had handed out 1,000 pairs of glasses on Friday and 200 more on Saturday, she said. On Sunday, the library was not giving any more out.

The rest it had reserved for “Eclipse Observation Day” on Monday. From 1 to 5 p.m., people can either watch the eclipse outside on the library grounds, or go inside and watch a NASA live stream of the eclipse. Additionally, the Thames Amateur Astronomical Society will have a solar telescope set up.

“I’m not sure how many they’ve held back for the actual event,” she added.

Christopher Lake, who was nearby with a book in his hand, had come looking for glasses Sunday.

“I had to hunt around to see where there might be glasses, because I couldn’t find any,” he said.

Citing a few news articles he’d seen about fake eclipse glasses that offer little to no protection, Lake said he would have a “much higher trust level” in the ones given out by the library. Since they’d run out, he said he would be going to Mystic Seaport to pick some up there.

“I only have two eyes and I need them both to keep track of my grandchildren,” he said.

Lake will be watching the eclipse from the comfort of his Stonington home. Meanwhile, his wife, daughter and grandson have traveled to his son’s house more than 500 miles away in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where the totality of the eclipse is expected to be near 100%. He said he was supposed to go with them, but is being cautious as he overcomes an illness.

Still, he said he’s happy to see so many people getting excited over the rare occurrence.

“It’s such an amazing event, and who knows if we’ll be around when another one happens,” Lake said.

Libraries in Waterford and Montville had also run out of glasses.

“We’ve been giving them out all week, but we ran out of them pretty quickly,” Waterford Library Circulation Technician John Carta said Thursday.

In a Facebook post, Montville’s Raymond Hill Library said it had given out 650 pairs over the past week before depleting its stock. The Public Library of New London had received a second shipment on Saturday of 100 pairs of glasses, after reserving 30 for a viewing party on Monday.

“Anywhere from 1:30 to 5 p.m. they can come in and do some crafts and learn about the eclipse,” Library Director Madhu Gupta said Thursday, adding glasses will be available for anyone who participates while supplies last.

Boy Scout Troop 67, of Montville, will host an eclipse viewing party from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Camp Oakdale baseball field on Meetinghouse Lane. Present will be troop leaders and pack leaders from Cub Scout Troop 67, and it will feature eclipse-themed crafts for kids along with a number of games and other activities. Free snacks and beverages will be provided.

The troop has 35 free pairs of glasses available for scout-aged kids.

Scoutmaster Chris Lawton said he won’t be there, because he’s in New Hampshire, “and will be heading a little further north to see the eclipse in its totality.”

Lawton wasn’t the only one who’d traveled to view the eclipse in higher totality. Several members of the Thames Amateur Astronomical Society had either planned treks up north or by Sunday were already there.

“My family and I are in Magog, Ontario, for the eclipse, said Bob Coggeshall, of Uncasville. ”Sunny skies are forecast, with 3 minutes and 28 seconds of totality.”

Moshe Gai, a professor of physics at the University of Connecticut, said he was “heading to Westford, Vermont, right on the path of totality, to the farm of my former student Tristan Kading.”

George Blahun, of Waterford, said he is “taking several cameras and solar filters but no telescopes for the event. If traffic doesn’t get in the way I hope to be north of Milan, New Hampshire, by 2:30 p.m.”

d.drainville@theday.com