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Pay attention to
your local library in 2019. In addition to checking out books, eBooks or a
DVD for movie night, many libraries are planning to make a variety of new
“Things” available to check out, such as novelty cake pans, ukuleles, board
games and more!
A collection of
non-standard items housed at a library is commonly called a “Library of
Things.” In the coming months, eight Clackamas County public libraries plan
to open one in partnership with the county’s Sustainability and Solid Waste
program.
The libraries
involved are Canby, Estacada, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sandy
& Hoodland, West Linn and Wilsonville.
“Our libraries are
always looking for new and innovative opportunities to stimulate the
imagination and promote lifelong learning, particularly where money, space
or other issues may hinder a person’s ability to do so otherwise,” said
Sarah McIntyre, director of the Sandy & Hoodland Public Libraries.
“We’re excited to join this growing movement among libraries.”
Hillsboro Public Library
opened a Library of Things in 2015, starting with board games. It now hosts
over 200 items—including an air fryer, karaoke machine, and VHS to DVD
converters. This past summer, Beaverton City Library also opened a Library
of Things. “We don’t need a lot of space to house these items because
they’re in such high demand, they’re always checked out,” said Michele
Caldwell with Beaverton City Library. To manage demand, many libraries have
multiples of popular items.
A Library of
Things also helps promote a more sustainable community. “These collections
support a growing trend of people downsizing and decluttering their lives
from the “stuff” we tend to accumulate,” said Stacy Ludington with the
Sustainability and Solid Waste program. “It takes natural resources such as
land, water, fossil fuels and metals to grow and manufacture the items
people buy. However, if 10 people share one item, the energy and resource
consumption needed for everyone to enjoy it decreases significantly.”
Residents can take
a survey to offer feedback about what types of items they would like to
check out at their local library at www.bit.ly/LibraryofThingsInput.
Surveys can also be completed at local libraries.
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