DoomsdaysCW<p>Ten Unexpected Things to Check Out at <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PublicLibraries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PublicLibraries</span></a></p><p>AuthorJuhie Bhatia<br>October 10, 2024</p><p>"The first thing that usually comes to mind when people think of public libraries is books. But at many libraries across the country, you can check out so much more than the latest self-help guide, best-selling thriller, or romance novel. </p><p>"While books still top the list of borrowed items, most libraries have expanded their offerings to include everything from musical instruments, baking pans, and science kits to sewing machines and board games. These nontraditional materials make up what librarians and others call the 'Library of Things.' </p><p>"'The initial concept of a Library of Things came about decades ago. This is an opportunity for libraries to start curating a local collection of items, outside of book materials, based on the local needs of the community,' says Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association. 'It's really to help expand or redefine the concept of a library collection.' </p><p>"The Marion Public Library in Iowa, for instance, has a longarm quilting machine. At the Brooklyn Public Library, you can check out vinyl records. </p><p>"'There are so many fun things,' says Hohl. 'It helps reduce consumption and waste while enabling residents to borrow items that maybe they don't want to purchase or can't afford to.' </p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.mellon.org/article/ten-unexpected-things-to-check-out-at-public-libraries" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">mellon.org/article/ten-unexpec</span><span class="invisible">ted-things-to-check-out-at-public-libraries</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PublicLibraries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PublicLibraries</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LibraryOfThings" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LibraryOfThings</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Tools" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tools</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ScienceKits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ScienceKits</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NatureKits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NatureKits</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Gardening" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gardening</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SeedBanks" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SeedBanks</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Camping" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Camping</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MusicalInstruments" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MusicalInstruments</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Cooking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Cooking</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SolarPunkSunday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SolarPunkSunday</span></a></p>