Libraries, Your Neighbor with Everything
From accordions to zesters, your public library may have a Library of Things available for checkout
Libraries Are For Books, Right?
When we think of libraries, we tend to think of books. After all, the word “library” is taken from the Latin word liber, which means “book.” The oldest libraries were likely limited to books, initially in the form of scrolls and tablets, with manuscripts, books, and pamphlets joining the shelves throughout history. In my research, I haven’t pinpointed when the first “non-book” was officially added to a library collection. Still, it’s possible other items circulated at some point in the past, meeting the specific needs of scholars at that time.
Additionally, the phrase “borrow a cup of sugar” from a neighbor is a leftover from an era where sharing resources with those nearby was an everyday occurrence, even an expectation. This practice lost popularity as it became easier to travel to grocery stores. Still, a similar phenomenon is gaining popularity: the sharing economy. While the term “Library of Things” is relatively new, the concept has a long history!
The First Nontraditional Libraries in the U.S.
The first modern collection of “non-traditional items” on record, often attributed to Grosse Point Library in 1943, was created to make tools accessible to the youth of their community during World War II. In 1935 During the Great Depression, the Toy Loan Program in Los Angeles began to provide toys to low-income families, a program that still exists today. However, Newark Public Library in New Jersey offered framed paintings for checkout in 1904!
The Modern Library of Things
Today, Library of Things collections can include anything from baking pans, musical instruments, hot spots, and so much more! Exciting things libraries offer for checkout around the United States include the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services’ Furs, Mounts, and Skulls collection. Or the Santa Suit collection found at Bolivar County Library in Mississippi.
Tech devices and gadgets are almost guaranteed to be a part of any Library of Things. These items are usually expensive but increasingly necessary in education, work, and everyday life. Remember, poverty and the digital divide are alive and kicking in the United States. The curators of Library of Things collections are well aware of this and try to offer items their patrons need tailoring to their communities.
Libraries + The Sharing Economy
The rise of the sharing economy means more people are interested in borrowing and sharing items than purchasing them, even if they can afford them, “prioritizing access over ownership.” Arguably, libraries are the original pillars of the “sharing economy.” It’s reasonably safe to say today they, and the Libraries of Things within them, are an integral part of it.
It’s possible to share anything from real estate via Airbnb to cars via ZipCar. A Library of Things fits nicely into this system as a free option for borrowing equipment, tools, instruments, and even day passes to attractions such as museums and zoos.
Impact on Small Towns
Libraries of all sizes across the United States and beyond can have a Library of Things, whether it’s a tiny Tiebrary to this massive collection of board games. These collections can tremendously impact communities, especially those with less access to specialty items such as expensive stand mixers, uncommon instruments like an accordion, or single-purpose equipment such as a radon detector.
Small towns may not have stores that would keep the items mentioned above in stock. It’s always a gamble buying something online, sight unseen (not to mention complicated return policies). Wouldn’t it be nice to try out a yogurt maker before committing to the expense of purchasing one of your own? Or, if you have a child who needs clarification on those piano lessons, checking out a Yamaha keyboard from the library could help them make the right decision.
Another common barrier is affordability, especially for an item used only once or twice. A Library of Things is the perfect solution, providing access to valuable and entertaining objects and enriching experiences like a family pass to the theater.
A Cup of Sugar Into Measuring Cups
While you won’t get a cup of sugar from your local library, you can check out some measuring cups! The next time you’re contemplating a major purchase or a new hobby and scratching your head wondering where on earth you can find a butter churn, stop by your local library and see if they have a Library of Things to peruse. You might be surprised!
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