Hey library workers, are you thinking of starting a Library of Things for your community? From tools to toys, cameras to kitchen appliances, fishing gear to musical instruments, and from blood pressure monitors to robots – you can do it! The presenters talk about launching these collections for a small library and a large suburban children’s collection. They highlight their experiences selecting, budgeting, cataloging, displaying, sustaining, and marketing their Library of Things. They also share what has and hasn’t worked, and you’ll leave with strategies for making the right decisions for your community.

Presented by: Dania Souid, Young Adult Services Librarian, Baldwinsville Public Library (NY); and Lindsay Delaney, Freelance Librarian (OR)

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Related Resources and Links

• Sharable’s series on Library of Things
• Library of Things group on Facebook
• Library of Things in the news, a series by presenter Lindsay Delaney
• Circulating STUFF: tactics and strategies of a children’s library of things, by Lindsay Delaney, May 2022
• DeWitt District Library includes a Blood Pressure Monitor in their Library of Things. Patrons can borrow the monitor and the library posted a series of quick start video guides, including how to put the monitor together and how to put a on blood pressure cuff.
• Library of Local Project, a partnership between Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley, the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS), and participating MHLS member libraries offering library patrons a collection of books, tools, seeds, AV equipment, and other resources that equip local communities to take action on the climate crisis and advance ecological repair.
• What can a library card get you? Try a popcorn maker or ukulele, The Christian Science Monitor, August 2022
• Spice of Life! Adding Variety to a Library of Things, about Springvale's Spice Library
• Baldwinsville example of Lego packaging info (pdf)
• Linsday's collection of Items and Review Sources to Consider for Children’s Library of Things (doc)
  
• Examples of Library of Things collections
• List on Wikipedia of libraries with Library of Things collections
• Richland Library
• Middle County Public Library
• La Grange Public Library
• Stark Library
• Chattanooga Public Library
  
• Free Library of Philadelphia's Musical Instrument Collection
• Kent District Library, Beyond Books collection and Board Game collection
  
• Provo City Library and Discovery Kits for kids
  
• Blog post about Free Library of Philadelphia's various collections, including the Tiebrary, with ties for job seekers to borrow!
• Lakeshore Public Library's Memory Kits (scroll to bottom of this page)
• Hall Memorial Library
• Way Public Library Beyond Books collection
• Rock Island Public Library
• Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
• Washington Centerville Public Library, Adult Maker Kits
  
• Video tours of Library of Things
• Hillsboro Public Library 
• Westport Public Library
• Cataloging resources
• Best Practices for Cataloging Objects Using RDA and MARC 21, ALA affiliate, OLAC Catalogers Network
• Genre Terms for Tabletop Games, University of North Texas Library
  
• Genre Terms for Makerspace Materials, University of North Texas Library
• Board Game Geek, for helpful classification information
  
• Waiver and Indemnification Form examples
• Waiver and Indemnification Form (pdf) example from Simsbury Public Library, Library of Things
• Baldwinsville example of Go Pro Kit Loan Agreement (pdf)
• Hall Memorial Library, Library of Things Borrower's Agreement and Use Policy (doc) and Waiver and Indemnification Form (doc)
• Community Library Network Library of Things Agreement Form
  
• For CD book cases, an attendee recommended the Library Store
  
• Fishing rod recommended by participant for a Library of Things

Photo of custom made packaging for Hall Memorial Library's Adventure Kits, part of their Library of Things collection. Logos embroidered by a local business, and bags were made by the gentleman who runs the Library's Minigolf program!