Your Library Card Can Get You So Much More Than Books (Tools, dogs, seeds, etc. )

[underpants]

Pretty incredible list of things now being offered at some public libraries

https://www.southernliving.com/culture/library-card-free-things

A few years ago, the Sacramento, California public library started a new service called the Library of Things where patrons could borrow books, of course, but also sewing machines, GoPro cameras, hedge trimmers, button makers, and a lot more. Patrons loved the ability to borrow things like pressure washers, projectors, and screen printers, which are useful but not necessarily something you want in the garage forever. Soon, the idea caught on nationwide.

The Arlington Public Library in Virginia loans out American Girl dolls. Georgia’s public library system offers 3D Printing, Legos, video production, robotics, and a lot more in their makerspaces. Cardholders can also use their library cards to get passes to the Atlanta Zoo, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, and more. You can also borrow items like sewing machines and even a green screen for film special effects.

Over in Manatee County, Florida, the library offers everything from telescopes to fishing poles to ukuleles. They also offer museum passes for any library card holders who want to visit the Gulf Coast’s South Florida Museum.

And while it’s not technically a public library, the Asheville Tool Library offers over 1,000 items, including every tool you can think of from chisels to pitchforks to chainsaws, as well as useful items like folding camp chairs and space heaters to borrow as needed.

[Lars39]

1. I remember being able to check out framed paintings way back when.

They were copies of the classics.

[mopinko]

5. me too!!

i had a hook that was just for the library pictures.
they were great.

[Lars39]

6. Such a neat idea wasn't it

[mopinko]

7. it was great. i had a small kid at the time.

i couldnt afford to buy real art. i loved having renoirs, chagalls, monets, even tho it was only a month.

i used to have access to another wonderful "library" when we were homeschoolers that was completely amazing.
the field museum of chicago has the harris loan center. it is a resource for schools. they were generous in their definition of a school, and they accepted us.
since we were there at least a couple of times a month, it was very convenient, too.
they let you take home little old dioramas. they would send an activity box w books or puppets or projects.
if i squint, i can still see the box w 2 ermine. WEASELS IN THE HOUSE!! i think we might have borrowed that one twice.
they were lovely, quaint little boxes. old wood w a great patina. at least 50 years old at the time. (20 some years ago)
lots of books, and boxes of stuff, too. bones, rocks, hides and feathers. animal footprint casts. hieroglyphic rubber stamps.

the field museum was the best part of homeschool.

[Lars39]

11. Lol weasels in the house!

Sounds like a wonderful resource. Love the Field Museum.

[underpants]

8. I had never heard of that

✅

[mopinko]

10. this was in a small town carniege library.

i think they stopped doing it not a whole lot later. art handling skills are a thing. they ended up getting a lot of damage.

at the time cheap reproductions werent a thing. it would be a lot easier now.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. How neat! Our senior citizen's center here in south St. Louis MO (Grand Oak Hill neighbor-

hood) offers tools and the like for local homeowners to use.

[liberalmuse]

3. I'm a huge fan of libraries.

I was a poor, single mom, but my daughter never felt poor. We’d rent movies, music and bring home books to entertain us because we couldn’t afford cable or internet. I learned how to create art from reading those books, and my daughter ended up traveling the world.

These days the library has digital movies, music and books available and I can stream them through Roku or Apple TV. I think it’s wonderful that they are offering so much more to their communities these days. Libraries are magical.

[MicaelS]

4. The Fort Worth Texas Public Library system has started lending Sprint cellular hotpots.

They have 200 units. You can check one out for 3 weeks, with no data cap. they are very popular, and there is a waiting list. You can not get one at the Downtown Library, rather they are available at outlying branches.

These are a godsend for me, since I only have 1GB a month data on my phone. .

In case anyone does not know what a Hotpsot is, it is A device for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network.

You can connect any Wi-Fi equipped device. Cell phone, desktop computer, laptop computer, etc.

[underpants]

9. Amazing.

Thanks.