Jump to content

Library of things

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Library of Things)
Balls for ball games is an example of sporting equipment which can be lent
Skiing equipment

A library of things is any collection of objects loaned, and any organization that practices such loaning. Objects often include kitchen appliances, tools, gardening equipment and seeds,[1] electronics,[2] toys and games, art,[3] science kits, craft supplies, musical instruments, and recreational equipment such as sports and outdoors gear.[4] Especially appropriate are objects that are useful occasionally but cumbersome to store, such as specialized cookware or niche technology items.[5] Collections vary widely, but go far beyond the books, journals, and media that have been the primary focus of traditional libraries.[6]

The library of things movement is a growing trend in public, academic and special libraries in many countries.[7][8] There are also free-standing organizations separate from libraries, such as tool libraries, toy libraries, community sharing centers,[9] independent non-profits, and individual initiatives. The term 'Library of Things' was popularized by a grassroots experiment started in London in 2014, themselves inspired by Toronto Tool Library.

The Share Shed (Totnes, UK) is developing the first mobile library of things. Collections are often supported by educational programming and public events.[10] These borrowing centers and library collections are part of the sharing economy.[11]

In Wales, Benthyg Cymru have developed a network to support each other sharing knowledge not just things.

Types of collections

[edit]

Arts and crafts

[edit]

Art rentals are being made available for library patrons for borrowing prints, posters, paintings, and other visual art.[12] Additionally, many libraries of things are adding arts and crafts equipment and supplies for use in the library or for check out. Crafting tools may include sewing machines, knitting kits, die-cutters, papercraft tools, jewelry repair and embroidery kits, scrapbooking supplies, and button makers.[13]

Electronics and technology

[edit]

Libraries have been lending electronics like e-readers, tablets, and laptops for quite some time already, but are now expanding the range of electronics that they lend through the library of things. Electronics offerings have expanded to include mobile hot spots, projectors, scanners, GoPros, graphics tablets, digital and film cameras, video games, converters (vinyl, cassette, and VHS to digital files), green screens, and video cameras.[14]

Musical instruments

[edit]

Instrument collections have been brought in to libraries, often accompanied by sheet music, tuners, amps, and educational resources.[15] The Free Library of Philadelphia launched its Musical Instrument Collection (MIC) in 2016, and lending includes an electric guitar, mandolin, electric bass, ukulele, acoustic-electric guitar, and a banjo.[16] Lopez Island Library in Lopez Island, Washington introduced a musical instrument "petting zoo", which includes instruments like acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, cello, clarinet, flugelhorn, French horn, electric keyboard, recorder, ukulele, viola and violin.[17] In Oregon, The Jackson County Library Services Library of Things music collection includes a table top electric drum set and a kalimba thumb piano.[18] Music Broth in Scotland has as of 2024 around 3000 instruments. Beginning in Glasgow in 2017, its library includes everything from guitars to ouds, домра/domra, violins, dulcimers, and electronic music equipment, all the way up to events equipment.[19]

Kitchen equipment

[edit]

Specialized kitchen equipment including food dehydrators, popcorn machines, ice cream makers, air fryers, instant pots, and Kitchen Aid blenders are available to borrow for home use.[20][18] Cake pans and novelty bakeware have been particularly popular additions to libraries, with many stand-alone collections being created.[21]

Gardening and seed libraries

[edit]

Seed libraries have cropped up as a part of public library collections.[22] Many have a policy for users who "check out" seeds for a growing season; they agree to plant the checked-out seeds and then save seeds from the yield to return to the collection for the following year.[23] Some seed libraries have become a point of contention with state governments' agriculture departments.[24] Agricultural equipment, landscaping tools, and gardening supplies are also included in 'things' collections, and may include rakes, hedge trimmers, pruners, hand tools, leaf blowers, and lawn mowers.[25] Some libraries are also creating community gardens[26] where library users can check out a garden plot for a growing season.[27]

Home tools

[edit]
Kill A Watt, an electricity-use measurement tool, available to borrow at a Los Angeles Public Library branch

Home monitoring tools such as thermal cameras, leak detectors, air quality meters, infrared thermometers, energy meters, and other devices are available in some collections for borrowing.[28]

Recreation

[edit]

Some libraries are bringing in equipment to help users enjoy outdoor recreation, sometimes in partnership with local Parks and Recreation departments. Among a wide range of recreation equipment offerings are fishing rods,[29] frisbees and whiffle balls, bird watching kits and croquet,[30] badminton, bocce or pickleball sets.[31]

Similarly, libraries are checking out party supplies for social recreation, including items like bubble, cotton candy, and karaoke machines, chocolate fountains, or boomboxes.[32]

Science and maker

[edit]

The Maker movement[33] has had an influence on the collections available at Libraries of Things, and as a result there are littleBits, Arduino, Makey Makey, Raspberry Pi, robotics kits, coding toys, 3D printers and vinyl and laser cutters may be available for check out at many libraries.[4][34] Similarly, science tools like digital microscopes, telescopes, light meters and themed science kits are being made available to borrow.[35]

Tools

[edit]

Tool libraries have gained popularity as free-standing borrowing centers in many cities, and libraries[36] are also bringing in tool collections for borrowing. Hand and power tools for home improvement, construction and fine woodworking are popular additions to libraries, and often are accompanied by programming and educational opportunities.[37]

Toys

[edit]

Toy lending centers have a longer history, stretching back to the Great Depression.[38] Recently,[when?] though, libraries have come to embrace the concept of toy libraries, and have introduced lending collections of puppets, board games, American Girl dolls,[39] puzzles, blocks and a wide variety of other toys into their collections.[38][40]

Other

[edit]

The library of things movement is expanding to include an ever-widening array of items. Objects include tiebraries,[41] taxidermied animals,[42] museum passes,[43] or Santa Claus suits.[44] Palm Harbor Public Library in Florida has a collection for role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons (the Mark Mazurek Role Playing Game Collections).[45]

List of organizations

[edit]

Traditional libraries

[edit]

Free-standing

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Landgraf, Greg (5 January 2015). "Not Your Garden-Variety Library". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Start Your Own Mobile Device-Lending Program". TechSoup for Libraries. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
    - Rosales, Romeo (25 February 2016). "Check Out a Library Hotspot » Public Libraries Online". publiclibrariesonline.org. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ^ Collie, Victoria. "Borrowing Art @ The Library » Public Libraries Online". publiclibrariesonline.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Patricia Leigh (14 September 2015). "These Public Libraries Are for Snowshoes and Ukuleles". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  5. ^ Williams, Casey (29 April 2016). "How Libraries -- Yes, Libraries -- Are Helping People Ditch Stuff They Don't Need". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  6. ^ Mead, Brian; Dankowski, Terra (1 June 2017). "The Library of Things". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. ^ Johnson, Cat (June 15, 2016). "The Library of Things: 8 Spaces Changing How We Think About Stuff". shareable.net. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  8. ^ Robison, Mark; Shedd, Lindley (2017). Audio Recorders to Zucchini Seeds. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-1-4408-5019-6.
  9. ^ "All the things you need, right around the corner". thethingery.com. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Cassidy, Charles (15 November 2012). "Can I Check This Out? : Circulating Collections Beyond Books, CDs, and DVDs". Public Libraries Online. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  11. ^ Figueroa, Miguel (6 October 2014). "Sharing Economy". American Libraries. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Art Prints". Ann Arbor District Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Collie, Victoria (5 November 2013). "Borrowing Art @ The Library » Public Libraries Online". publiclibrariesonline.org. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  13. ^ Garrison, Ellen (1 February 2015). "Borrow a sewing machine? Sacramento Public Library to start loaning more than books". sacbee. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Zinn, Jill (1 June 2015). "Check out arts & crafts with kits from the library!". Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Beuker, Jessica (8 January 2016). "A new "library of things" lets you test your hidden genius by borrowing nearly anything". The Plaid Zebra. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Camera Kits". Spokane Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - Rosales, Jr., Romeo (24 February 2016). "Check Out a Library Hotspot". Public Libraries Online. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Borrow a Musical Instrument". Toronto Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Borrow a musical instrument". Forbes Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "About Music Tools". Ann Arbor District Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  16. ^ Genovesi, Perry (21 September 2016). "Blog: Opening Notes of Instrument Lending at the Free Library". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Musical Instrument Petting Zoo is coming August 12th 12 – 2pm". Lopez Island Library. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  18. ^ a b "JCLS Library of Things". Jcls.org.
  19. ^ "Music Broth Scotland's Loudest Library". Music Broth. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  20. ^ "Library of Extraordinary Things: Culinary Cupboard". Elmhurst Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - Johnson, Cat (June 15, 2016). "The Library of Things: 8 Spaces Changing How We Think About Stuff". Shareable. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Alteir, Nuran (29 May 2015). "Checking 'things' out: Library offers bakeware and gadgets to accompany those how-to books". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Tuttle, Brad (May 25, 2016). "22 Incredibly Useful Things Your Town Is Probably Giving Away for Free". Money.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  21. ^ Schwartz, Meredith (14 June 2012). "Let Them Lend Cake Pans". Library Journal. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Lysgaard, Ingrid (20 October 2015). "Check out a cake pan from the library". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "LibGuides: Cake Pans: Overview". The Public Library, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Holiday baking with our cake pan collection". Andover Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Library of Things". Public Library of Brookline. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Cake Pan & Cookie Cutters". North Haven Memorial Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "List of Cake Pans". Ackley Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Cake Pans". Seward Memorial Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  22. ^ Runyon, Luke (2 February 2013). "How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank". NPR.org. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Dawson, Gloria (17 July 2013). "5 Public Libraries That Have Gone to Seed (Libraries)". Modern Farmer. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library". Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "Welcome to the Seed Library". Pima County Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "A Seed Library Grows in Clayton". Depauville Free Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  24. ^ Landgraf, Greg (8 December 2014). "Seed Libraries and State Laws". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Creason, Naomi. "Department of Agriculture cracks down on seed libraries". The Sentinel. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Renner, Serena (27 April 2015). "Why are state governments shutting down community seed libraries?". Inhabit. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  25. ^ "The Shed: Garden Tool Lending Library". Arlington Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Lowe, Judy (4 August 2008). "Borrow garden tools at the library". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Shrewsbury Public Library offers garden tools for checkout". Community Advocate. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Growing Library Garden Programs". Web Junction. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  27. ^ Waltos, Michelle (28 November 2014). "Library Farm". NOPL. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "Tewksbury Public Library Community Garden". Tewksbury Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  28. ^ "About Home Tools". Ann Arbor District Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Power Check Energy Meter Program". Denver Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - Folven, Edwin (2 July 2015). "L.A. Public Library to loan energy usage monitors". Park Labrea News/ Beverly Press. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  29. ^ Blair, Elizabeth (13 August 2013). "Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Fishing Poles, Pans And People". NPR.org. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "Fishing Rods, Reels and Tackle Available for Checkout". Ela Area Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  30. ^ Young, Jordan (9 April 2014). "Mesa's public libraries offering books, DVDs – and croquet sets". Cronkite News. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  31. ^ "Library of Things". City of Hillsboro. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  32. ^ "Library of Extraordinary Things: Celebrate". Elmhurst Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  33. ^ Figueroa, Miguel (15 September 2014). "Maker Movement". ALA Center for the Future of Libraries. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Library of Things". Cary Memorial Library, Lexington, Massachusetts. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "Library of Things". Livingston Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  35. ^ "About Science Tools". Ann Arbor District Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    -"Borrow a Telescope". Worcester Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  36. ^ "Tool Lending Library". Oakland Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - Householder, Mike (20 July 2013). "Need A Tool? Libraries Lending More Than Books". CBS Detroit. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
    - "Ozarkansas Tool Library". Fayetteville Public Library. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  37. ^ "Tool Library". West Bloomington Revitalization Project. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  38. ^ a b Cottrell, Megan (3 December 2013). "Toy Libraries: A Place to Play". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  39. ^ "American Girl Dolls". Oak Park Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  40. ^ "Welcome to the USA Toy Library Association". USA Toy Library Association. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  41. ^ Walker, Jennifer (1 September 2016). "Community Ties". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  42. ^ Fawcett, Kirstin (9 October 2015). "You Can Check Out Taxidermy at This Alaskan Library". Mental Floss. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - Caldwell, Suzanna (6 October 2015). "Need a wolf fur? A puffin pelt? All you need is a library card and a visit to the ARLIS library". Alaska Dispatch News.
  43. ^ "Museum Pass". The Seattle Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    - "BPL - Museum Pass Reservations". Boston Public Library. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  44. ^ Ward, Robbie. "Mississippi libraries offer much more than books". Daily Journal. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  45. ^ "Services". Palm Harbor Library. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  46. ^ "Library of Things". Acpl.lib.in.us. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  47. ^ "Library of Things". 17 March 2021.
  48. ^ "Library of Things". Banfflibrary.ab.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  49. ^ "About Egleston Square". Bpl.org. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  50. ^ "Bibliothek der Dinge". stabi-hb.de. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  51. ^ "Discover the Library of Things". Bridges Library System. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  52. ^ "What is This – Capital Area District Library". cadl.org.
  53. ^ "Library of Things". nicheacademy.com.
  54. ^ "Winthrop library offers new snowshoe loan program". Central Maine. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  55. ^ "Fishing poles, snowshoes, a telescope — libraries are lending more than just books". Central Maine. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  56. ^ "Library of Things, Kits, and Passes". CEF Library System. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  57. ^ cmladmin. "Library of Things". Curtis Memorial Library. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  58. ^ "Library of Things – Deerfield Public Library". deerfieldlibrary.org. 2 September 2022.
  59. ^ "Library of Extraordinary Things". elmhurstpubliclibrary.org.
  60. ^ "Library of Things | City of Englewood, Colorado". Englewood Public Library | City of Englewood, Colorado. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ "Washougal Seed Lending Library | FVRLibraries". Fvrl.org.
  62. ^ "Library of Things – Glencoe Public Library". glencoelibrary.org.
  63. ^ "Library of Things". glenviewpl.org.
  64. ^ "Library of Things – Highland Park Public Library". hplibrary.org.
  65. ^ "Library of Things | Jackson County Library Services". jcls.org.
  66. ^ "Library of Things". Jefferson Parish Library. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  67. ^ "Library of Things". keenenh.gov.
  68. ^ Bueckert, Kate. "Kitchener Public Library unveils new instrument lending library". CBC News.
  69. ^ "Library of Things – La Grange Park Public Library". lplibrary.org.
  70. ^ "Borrow from Special Collections including Tech & Accessibility". lakeforestlibrary.org.
  71. ^ "Library of Things | Lincolnwood Public Library". Lincolnwoodlibrary.org. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  72. ^ "Library of Things". mapld.org.
  73. ^ "Technology Equipment – Niles-Maine District Library". nileslibrary.org.
  74. ^ "STEAM @ the Library – Pasadena Public Library". Cityofpasadena.net.
  75. ^ "Library of Things | Pasco County Libraries". pascolibraries.org. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  76. ^ "Library of Things | Richland Library". Richlandlibrary.com.
  77. ^ "Robbins Library". Robbinslibrary.org.
  78. ^ "Pumpkin Seed Library". Gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com.
  79. ^ Stucki, Tavin. "Library of Things | The County Library". Salt Lake County Library. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  80. ^ "Devices & gadgets". skokielibrary.info.
  81. ^ "Library of Things". Somervillepubliclibrary.org.
  82. ^ "Library of Things". Springvale Public Library. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  83. ^ "Borrow Equipment & Devices". scpld.org.
  84. ^ "Library of Things | Urbana Free Library". urbanafreelibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  85. ^ "Gegenstände des Alltags und digitale Dinge leihen".
  86. ^ Hill, Katherine (2021-04-22). "Park passes available to borrow at Kitchener, Waterloo public libraries". Kitchener. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  87. ^ "Library of Things | Watertown Library, MA". watertownlib.org. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  88. ^ "Library of Things – West Chicago Public Library District". wcpld.info.
  89. ^ "Library of Things". wilmettelibrary.info.
  90. ^ "Library of Things". winnetkalibrary.org.
  91. ^ "Belfast Tool Library". Belfast Tool Library. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  92. ^ "HOME". Benthyg.org. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  93. ^ "Home". Borrow Don't Buy Plymouth. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  94. ^ "Brunswick Tool Library". Brunswick Tool Library. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  95. ^ "Edmonton Tool Library". Archived from the original on 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  96. ^ "Edinburgh Tool Library – Edinburgh Tool Library". edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  97. ^ "Glasgow Tool Library". Glasgowtoollibrary.com. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  98. ^ "| Halifax Tool Library & Workshop". Halifaxtoollibrary.ca. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  99. ^ "Home :: Library of Stuff CIC". Libraryofstuff.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  100. ^ Parry, Anwen (2023-06-17). "'Library of things' opens to cut waste in Powys town". Powys County Times.
  101. ^ "Library of Things YXE". Libraryofthingsyxe.myturn.com.
  102. ^ "KW Library of Things – A space for sharing items ranging from tools to camping and kitchen equipment". Kwlot.ca. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  103. ^ "NE Seattle Tool Library". Neseattle.myturn.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  104. ^ "NE Seattle Tool Library". www.phinneycenter.org. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  105. ^ "Home". Borrowtools.org. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  106. ^ Johnson, Karen (2024-06-13). "Bristol gets its first 'Library of Things'". B24/7.
  107. ^ Tate, Lesley (2024-09-09). "Skipton's Mayor opens the town's first Library of Things". Craven Herald & Pioneer.
  108. ^ "Canada's First 'Library of Things' Opens in Toronto". Treehugger.com.
  109. ^ "The Tool Library – We provide communities the tools they need to create the change they want". Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  110. ^ "Home – Toronto Tool Library". Torontotoollibrary.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  111. ^ "The Vancouver Tool Library Cooperative". Vancouver.myturn.com.
  112. ^ "West Philly Tool Library". West Philly Tool Library. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  113. ^ "West Seattle Tool Library". Wstl.myturn.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Library_of_things&oldid=1260945589"