National Library Week: Library of Things
Written by Hal Harmon, Rocky Bluff Library Manager
This year’s National Library Week (April 4–10) theme is “Welcome to Your Library”, so I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the community to some of the unique collections we have available through the Manatee County Public Library System. Over the years the library system has been expanding its offerings beyond books to include everything from musical instruments to telescopes. Known as the Library of Things, these unique collections are just another way for the library to deliver our mission of promoting lifelong learning.
Spring is the perfect time to start that home improvement project; at Rocky Bluff Library, we have tools to help…literally. The Tool Library includes pressure washers, a metal detector, a large step ladder, an air compressor, laser level, multi-tool kit, and many other tools that can be checked out. Tool libraries are not a new phenomenon and are found all over the country, such as the Berkley Public Library, which established a tool lending library in 1979, the Oakland Public Library and, a little closer to home, the Safety Harbor and Clearwater Libraries. Manatee’s tool library began as a Leadership Academy project by my colleague Zenobia Giles of Central Library. With generous support from the Manatee County Library Foundation, that project become a reality in mid-2019.
All Manatee County card holders can check out and reserve tools to be picked up at Rocky Bluff Library. To view our complete catalog of tools, visit our online catalog and click “Tools” located under the “You can now check out” header on the upper left side of the page.
Another new addition to Rocky Bluff Library’s “Library of Things” are Memory Kits. Memory Kits are intended for older adults with dementia and cognitive decline. Kits include nostalgic DVDs and photos to help stimulate memory and conversations. Themes include the four seasons, farm life, and the 1950s.
During the pandemic, with people working from home and children learning remotely, the need for Internet access has never been so apparent. We now offer Wi-fi hotspots available for check out. Hotspots can be checked out for 3 weeks, are 4G LTE capable (in USA only) and can connect up to 15 devices. The hotspots were initially funded by the Manatee County Library Foundation with additional units paid for by the Bradenton COVID-19 Response Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation.
These items represent just a small portion of some of the unique and diverse collections we have at the library. Visit us at www.mymanatee.org/library to explore all that we have to offer.
