Around the country, traditional libraries and a
small number of non-profit lending operations
loan out collections of household items: cake
pans in Akron, Ohio; paintings in Minneapolis;
telescopes in St. Louis; sewing machines in
Rochester, New York.
For traditional libraries, such items are a natural
extension of their mission to provide resources
to the community. Many of the other institutions
see lending programs as a way to help people
save money or lead more sustainable lives by
owning fewer things.
As with books, “it’s the idea of collections
that are purchased by a group and used by
multiple people over and over again,” said Jen
Lenio, collections manager of the Rochester
Public Library.
The Rochester library system’s offerings are
driven by patron interests, as well as a desire
to assist low-income people, she said. The
success of library craft classes inspired the staff
to create borrowable knitting and crochet kits.
Recognizing that the ability to make or repair
clothes could be useful, the team purchased
sewing machines that patrons can check out.
“We’re trying to fill needs that the community
has,” Lenio said.
The Akron-Summit County Public Library’s
cake pan lending program was so popular,
the institution decided to buy kitchen tools to
circulate too. The items — including measuring
cups, kitchen scales and baking dishes — appeal
to the area’s large student population and
younger patrons setting up households, among
others, said Monique Mason, manager of the
libraries’ science and technology division.
The collection includes utensils that people
might use only rarely, like a cherry pitter, candy
ann
(Ann)
#1