Obviously, patrons can check out books and audiovisual materials with their library card, and most patrons know that they also have access to the eLibrary, but did you know that there is also a Library of Things? The items available could be useful for those wanting to test something before making a purchase, avoid an expense for something that might be a one-time use, try something new or supplement existing resources for a short time. Here are just 10 items that you might find at a library in your community:
- Arts and Crafts Items (ex. pottery wheel, quilting ruler, Cricut, weaving loom, knitting equipment and more)
- Board Games and Puzzles
- Bakeware and Cooking (ex. chocolate mold, cookie cutters, cake pan, waffle maker, spiral vegetable slicer and more)
- Musical Instruments (ex. ukulele, sequencer, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, record player and more)
- Outdoor Activity Items (lawn darts, cornhole, pickleball set, bocce, tennis racket and more)
- Tools (ex. bike pump, tile nippers, cable cutters, air compressor, drain wrench and more)
- Puppets
- Wonderbooks
- Video Game Systems
- Experience Kits
Check the library catalog for more information about check-out or request rules.
This month’s segment of Books & Beyond on Pittsburgh Today Live with Heather Abraham and David Highfield features The Library of Things. To watch the full segment, click here. The book for this month’s segment is How to Make Friends With A Ghost by Rebecca Green, a perfect picture book to read as a family for spooky season. Check out ACLA Youth Services on Facebook to find the parent tip sheet. Limited copies of the book are available, so if interested complete this survey after watching the segment.