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03/10/2021 06:45 AMTelescopes, lawn games, chess sets, laptops, tablets, and devices used to monitor electricity usage: These are just a few favorites at Scranton’s aptly named “Library of Things,” a new program that launched as the library reopened last week that plans to expand an eclectic catalogue of items, potentially including everything from garden tools to Go-Pros, that can be checked out with just a library card.
“It really goes back to the fundamental mission of the library, to pool our resources and make these things available to the whole community. It’s an idea that’s been around for maybe the last 10 years,” said Scranton Library Director Sunnie Scarpa.
As residents return to the new building after an approximately six-week closure following spiking COVID cases this winter, the Library of Things will give patrons access to varied educational and entertainment opportunities not always associated with libraries, with the hope that new additions will come from community suggestions, Scarpa said.
Though libraries have long offered more resources than just borrowing books, the types and variety of items that residents can freely make use of has been growing across the larger library landscape, according to Scarpa and library Head of Public Services Allison Murphy, who has led the Library of Things at Scranton.
Other Connecticut libraries have offered collections of everything from specialty baking pans to garden seeds, Murphy said.
“We would love to be able to branch out from here. We’re looking to see what types of things are the most popular,” Scarpa said.
So far, the telescope—a high-grade, high-performing example that was donated by an astronomy club—has been the most popular, along with binoculars. She added that lawn games, including bocce ball sets and popular games like spikeball, would likely get plenty of use in the summer.
“It’s one of the most fun things that I love about librarianship is getting to know a community, and then curate a collection and resources and programs that are really specific to what this town wants,” said Scarpa.
Besides just paying attention to what is being checked out, Scarpa asked anyone with suggestions to reach out to Scranton staff to express what they think would be useful or a positive addition to the collection.
Murphy, who only joined Scranton a little more than a month ago, said in the past she has been surprised by what kind of items were most popular, including things like garden rakes.
The library is also currently play-testing some more fun-focused items like board games, which can be either brought home or eventually used in the library itself, once it is safe to gather indoors.
Other ideas under consideration include specialty tools—things people might need for a single DIY project, but don’t want to have to purchase—and mini projectors, which are popular with young people and can be used for backyard movie nights.
Scarpa said Scranton is able to make the Library of Things happen as envisioned using its current budget request (which has not yet been approved), but staff will also look at grants and other partnerships as far as opportunities to add specialty items.
“It’s important for us to gauge interest and get feedback from the public first before we buy a bunch of things,” Scarpa said. “We’re going to see what’s popular.”
For more information including hours of operation, visit the library’s website at www.scrantonlibrary.org or call 203-245-7365.