16 Helpful Items to Borrow From Your Public Library

Most folks think of the public library as a place for books and a quiet table, and few realize how much else is waiting behind the front desk. Along with books, you can borrow movies, music, audiobooks, and even video games. But did you know that many libraries also lend tools for projects and hobbies? From telescopes to musical instruments to sewing machines and baking supplies, public libraries keep an array of items you may not expect. Borrowing them saves money, and it lets you test your interest and skill before you spend a dime on your own set. We hope this list sends you to your library card with fresh ideas.

Public Library “Library Of Things”

Every public library keeps a different stock, usually grouped under a category called the “Library of Things.” This is not a small or rare program. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, the federal library agency, counts more than 17,000 public library buildings across the country, and a growing share of them now lend gear alongside books. If you are new to your neighborhood, find your local library here.

1) Garden Tool Sets And Basic Toolkits

While perusing books at the library for new or innovative gardening ideas, you can borrow a set of gardening tools to work your own garden plot at home. Here at the Farmers’ Almanac, gardening is one of our specialties. Visit our website and annual print edition for up-to-date planting guides. Need help fixing items around the house? Borrow a basic toolkit along with a home repair guide from the library.

2) Telescopes and Binoculars

Calling all stargazers and bird watchers! First, see what’s happening in the cosmos according to our monthly Night Sky Guides. Then call your local library to reserve a telescope or set of binoculars for spectacular viewing. Planning a hike? Nature lovers and bird watchers will enjoy having a pair of binoculars along for detailed views of picturesque vistas and wildlife.

3) Seed Swap Library

With a library card, you borrow seeds and grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Be sure to save and return open-pollinated or heirloom seeds from the plants you harvest to keep the growing cycle going. Many public libraries sponsor seed swaps and run helpful Facebook community pages where you can connect with likeminded gardener friends. You can also follow the Farmers’ Almanac on Facebook for more. Here is our guide for sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings.

4) Museum Passes

Who doesn’t like free passes? The public library system’s museum pass program offers cardholders free admission to area art and music museums, children’s museums, zoos, science museums, botanical gardens, and historical mansions and estates.

5) Power Washer

Cleaning the patio, walkway, or exterior of your house is an annual chore for many homeowners. Looking to rent a pressure washer near you? Before spending $40 to $100 a day for rentals, check your local library of things list to see if one is available, free for use to cardholders.

6) Carpet Cleaner

The cost of renting a machine from a home improvement or grocery store starts at about $40 for 24-hour usage. While it is less expensive than purchasing a carpet cleaning machine, the library of things listing often includes carpet cleaners, free to use, when available.

7) Cake Decorating Kit

Want to decorate a cake for an upcoming party or event? Instead of investing in a bunch of cake decorating supplies, you can borrow a cake decorating kit along with a DIY book from your local library. If you find cake decorating is a hobby you want to do more of, then you will know what to shop for when purchasing your own set.

8) Nutcracker

Pecan pie is a classic holiday dessert. Cracking and shelling pecans as a family can be a special annual tradition. Do not have a nutcracker? Check the “Library of Things” listing at your public library to borrow one. And if you are looking for a new take on traditional pecan pie, try our Caramel Pecan Pie recipe!

9) Food Dehydrator

Extend the shelf life of orchard and garden produce like apples, grapes, cherries, tomatoes, mushrooms, herbs, onions, kale, spinach, and other greens with a food dehydrator on loan from your public library. Dry fruits for homemade trail mix or make your own jerky from venison or beef, ideal snacks for hiking and camping trips! Here are 10 tips for saving money on your next camping trip.

10) Art Prints

Would you like fine art prints in your home or apartment, but it is not in your budget? Check your public library for artwork on loan by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, and more.

11) Sewing Machine

Whether you need to sew simple repairs to clothing or want to machine sew a new quilt, as part of the “Library of Things” network, public libraries loan sewing machines to those with library cards.

12) Light Therapy Lamp

Light therapy is used at home to improve seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression, and sleep disorders. Before purchasing your own lamp, borrow one from your local library to make sure it works for you. Check your library website for availability.

13) Musical Instruments

Before investing in a musical instrument, consider trying one out first. It is no surprise that the “Music City” Nashville public library, for example, has ten different musical instruments, including ukuleles, lyre harps, lap harps, xylophones, electric piano keyboards, handbells, bongo drums, and more available. Check your library website for availability and to place an instrument on hold.

14) Metal Detector

Metal detecting is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby for many. With a metal detector on loan from your public library, you can search public beaches, parks, campgrounds, and even your own yard or fields at the family farm for treasures!

15) Photography Light Box

A light box makes the objects you photograph look their best. Borrow one from the library to photograph items you craft such as jewelry, pottery, leather goods, wood carving, and the like. A light box may help you turn a hobby into a source of income. Build a portfolio or use the photos to sell your handcrafted items online. Speaking of which, have you visited the FA online store? We have thoughtful and affordable gifts for any occasion.

16) PA System (Speakers And Microphone)

Whether you are planning a book reading, a garden club meeting, or a wedding reception, borrowing a microphone with a speaker helps make your event a success and saves money. Check the public “Library of Things” list in your area.

How to Borrow

To see what useful items you can check out with your library card, visit the website of a public library near you. Search “Library of Things” for a complete online listing, or call to ask a librarian for information. The larger the city, the greater your chances of finding what you need. Not all locations carry the same inventory. Categories vary, ranging from musical instruments, tools, and electronics to health and fitness, cooking tools and appliances, activities and games, crafts and hobbies, and travel gear.

Tips for Borrowing From the Library of Things

A little planning makes the borrowing go smoothly. A few habits keep you in good standing and ready for your next loan.

• Reserve ahead. Popular items like power washers and telescopes get held quickly, so place a hold online or by phone before the weekend you need it.
• Check the loan period. Tools and gadgets often check out for a shorter window than books, sometimes a week or less, with steeper late fees.
• Inspect before you leave. Note any wear with the librarian so you are not charged for damage that was already there.
• Clean it and return it whole. Return the carpet cleaner emptied and the kit with every piece counted, the same way you would want to find it.
• Ask about the next branch. If your branch does not have an item, a librarian can often request it from another location in the system.

Join The Discussion

Have you ever borrowed tools or equipment from your local library?

Did this article inspire you to explore a hobby or activity? We hope so.

Share your experience in the comments below.

Borrowing From Your Public Library: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “Library of Things”?

A Library of Things is a lending collection of useful items beyond books, such as tools, telescopes, sewing machines, power washers, and musical instruments. Cardholders borrow them free or for a small fee, the same way they borrow books, then return them for the next person to use.

What can I borrow from my public library besides books?

Depending on your branch, you may be able to borrow garden tool sets, telescopes and binoculars, seeds, museum passes, a power washer, a carpet cleaner, a cake decorating kit, a nutcracker, a food dehydrator, art prints, a sewing machine, a light therapy lamp, musical instruments, a metal detector, a photography light box, and a PA system with speakers and a microphone.

How do I find a Library of Things near me?

Search “Library of Things” on your local library website, or call and ask a librarian. You can also look up a public library near you through a directory like CareerOneStop. Larger cities usually carry more items, and a librarian can often request something from another branch in the system.

Does it cost money to borrow items from the library?

Many Library of Things items are free to cardholders, the same as books. Borrowing them saves real money compared to renting, since a pressure washer can run $40 to $100 a day and a carpet cleaner starts around $40 for 24 hours. Loan periods for gear are often shorter than for books, so check the due date and any late fees.

Why borrow before I buy?

Borrowing lets you test your interest and skill before you invest. A light therapy lamp, a sewing machine, or a musical instrument is a real purchase, and trying one first tells you whether the hobby sticks and exactly what to shop for when you are ready to buy your own.

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