12 Unique Ways to Use the Library
The library is about so much more than borrowing books!
Public libraries have come a long way — from sharing the love of reading to providing entertaining programs, helpful services, and even allowing you to borrow a bevy of household items, so you don’t have to shell out your hard-earned cash for a waffle cone maker you use a couple of times before leaving it in the cabinet to collect dust. To give you an idea of how far-ranging library resources go, here’s a list of 12 unique things you may be able to do at your library.
1. Pick Up Library Holds Anytime
The Turner Free Library in Massachusetts offers convenient outdoor holds lockers. Select a locker when placing a hold, and pick up your new read at your convenience! Just pull up, grab your books on hold, and continue with your day. This is a great option for parents and caregivers, and people with busy schedules.
The Kent District Library in Wyoming also has lockers available around the clock. If you can’t make it to the library during regular hours, you can fill out the online form, and they’ll assign a locker you can access anytime.
2. Borrow Passes for State Parks
Los Angeles Public Library patrons can borrow a California State Library Parks pass, which grants them single-day vehicle access to one of over 200 state parks.
The Monroe County Library System in New York participates in the Empire Pass program, where patrons can borrow a day pass for one of the hundreds of state parks.
3. Attend a Farmer’s Market
The John Graham Library of Cumberland County Library System in Pennsylvania hosts a weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays from May through October. You can purchase fresh produce or sell your goods.
The Monroe Township Library in New Jersey hosts a farmer’s market Thursday afternoons through mid-September. You can enjoy live music, receive free health screenings, and check out the library’s book sale as you shop for fruits, veggies, and other locally grown/made foods, soaps, and lotions.
4. Borrow Kitchenware
The Hartford Public Library in Connecticut can help you prepare for the holidays or kids’ parties with a unique selection from their ‘Library of Things.’ You can borrow a cake decorating kit, cookie cutters, and specialty cake pans, like dinosaur or giant cupcake-shaped pans.
At the Washington County Library in Oregon, you can borrow kitchenware like ice cream makers, bread makers, Instant Pots, and waffle cone makers.
5. Borrow Sporting Goods
The Newbury Town Library in Massachusetts has an array of outdoor sports supplies to borrow, such as a Bocce set, croquet set, volleyball set, and snowshoes.
The Wilkinson Public Library in Colorado can help liven up your next outdoor gathering when you borrow from their range of lawn games, including a pickleball set, tennis rackets, horseshoes, and a cornhole game.
6. Borrow Games
At the West Bridgewater Public Library in Massachusetts, you can borrow cool kids’ toys like a giant Connect Four game, a children’s guitar, a karaoke machine, and all sorts of board games.
Chase away the rainy day blues by choosing from an extensive list of games, toys, and building sets at the Capital Area District Libraries in Michigan.
7. Attend a Support Group Meeting
The Taylor County Public Library in Kentucky holds a monthly meeting for its chronic illness and disability support group. Community members are welcome to attend to talk about their struggles, seek advice, and offer support to others living with chronic illness and disability.
The West Caldwell Public Library in New Jersey hosts a monthly Chronic Pain Support Group led by Dr. Steve Colacurcio, a licensed chiropractor and massage therapist.
8. Learn How to Play an Instrument
The Rockland Public Library in Maine offers a weekly ukulele class with Heather Beers, an instructor with experience teaching general music, ukulele, and violin.
Learn how to play guitar or hone your skills at the Katy Public Library in Texas. Their Adult Guitar Cafe is held every other Saturday. If you don’t have your guitar, you’re welcome to borrow one of theirs.
9. Learn Home Maintenance and Repair
Whether you are looking to tackle a home repair project yourself or need to know how to hire the right professional for the job, the Knowing Your Home series at the Lakewood Public Library in Ohio can help.
The Brooklyn Public Library in New York has set up The Repair Hub at the Green Point Environmental Education Center (GEEC) to host monthly workshops. Topics include general home repairs and maintenance, lamps and small appliances, and fixing furniture.
10. Grow Your Food
The Oakland Public Library System in California has seed-lending libraries with community gardens at some branches where volunteers can adopt small plots of soil to tend.
The Jefferson Public Library in Georgia has a seed library with a dedicated blog Excel at Gardening. The library also holds gardening events, including a Garden, Grub, and Gab, to talk about gardening, share food using ingredients from the garden, and have a chance to win prizes.
11. Attend Classes
The Carnegie Public Library in Indiana holds weekly ‘Before 5’ parenting classes to help parents get through their child’s early years more easily and confidently.
The Queens Public Library System in New York supports parents of toddlers with its Toddler Learning Centers (TLCS). The program series is offered at least twice annually, covering early literacy, gross motor development, parenting tips, and nutrition.
12. Enjoy a Night Out
Florida's Manatee County Public Library system hosts monthly trivia nights at several branches. Grab a group of friends to form a team, or show up solo and join a team.
Although this trivia night is held off-site, it is organized by the Muskingum County Library System in Ohio. The library partners with their local brewery, Weasel Boy Brewing Company, to throw a monthly trivia competition complete with pizza.
You Never Know What You’ll Find at the Library
The library is about so much more than borrowing books! You can learn, socialize, volunteer, and seek your community’s support through various materials, resources, and programs. Stop by your local library to discover new and exciting things they offer.
Visit everylibrary.org to learn how you can support the crucial resources that libraries offer their communities.
