Community Through Borrowing: The Library of Things

What do a walkie talkie, a leaf blower and a Santa costume all have in common? You can loan them from the Library of Things at Elting Memorial Library, free of cost for up to a week at a time, no questions asked. Walk through the library doors, and you will see how the library offers more than literature — items ranging from sensory kits to bowling pins are sitting next to the front desk.

The Library of Things is a collection of over 40 items for library card holders to check out. Rather than purchasing a sewing machine to repair one pants button or buy an expensive pair of binoculars before you are even sure you like birdwatching, patrons can try the items out and return them. The Library of Things does more than save card holders from spending money: it fosters community. 

“Why not share that thing, whatever it is,” Library Director Crystal Middleton said. “A book or a rake, right? Share it amongst the community, and then you don’t have to have each household feeling like they have to purchase another version.” 

The variety of resources at the library bring people together. If a person wants to learn how to play chess, they can check out a book about chess theory. This may be their first step at connecting with others — the book loan can give way to using the library’s chess board, then meeting other players who meet at the library for Sunday chess club.

“We always hope it leads to more questions, more learning, more ideas,” Middleton said. 

Not all items are on display in the library lobby due to the size of certain equipment, like the metal detector or yard size Connect Four. Patrons can browse through photos of available items in the binders and fill out a borrower agreement form for the item they choose. 

Beneath the binder are the organized spices, from bay leaves to fennel seeds. Referred to as the “Spice Library,” its purpose is adjacent to the Library of Things: to allow patrons to save money, try something for the first time — like a new cooking recipe — and reduce waste so people do not purchase spices they try then dislike.

Most of the items are community building or learning activities with the intention of meeting peoples’ needs but also offering enrichment. “Hopefully, the idea is that it’s very helpful to people, but the other part of it is educational and creativity,” Middleton said. 

While some patrons may be experienced using the available tools, it gives others the opportunity to try something new and learn. “Every one of them has a whole other realm that you might open up for a person,” Middleton said.  

“I used the Library of Things to get a tent for camping, and it was so helpful,” said alumni Julia Lieberstein. “It was amazing.” 

“It spreads community. You’re able to trust a place in your town has the things that you might need available. Maybe not even things you need. Maybe games from the Library of Things because that’s fun, and it builds more community.” 

According to Middleton, mobile hot spots that allow people to connect to the internet are one of the library’s most checked out items. The library pays for the internet connection, and people can use it to get online whatever the circumstance. 

 Games including mahjong or bocce ball are also popular amongst patrons. “It gets people to gather together and plan things,”  Middleton said. “Lots of parents will borrow some of the yard games for their kids birthday party.”

 While the games are fun, they also give the people playing them opportunities to grow. “You have to follow rules. You have to work together. You have to make sure you’re being fair,” Middleton said. 

A 2014 grassroots experiment in London popularized the term Library of Things when a West Norwood library performed a three-month experiment to see if people would borrow items from the library in lieu of buying them.

Elting Library is also a Library of Local location. The Climate Action Hudson Valley has parterned with the Mid-Hudson Library System to offer a collection of tools, seeds, books and additional resources to take local action against climate change. After an application process, the initiative provided the library with a seed shelf for patrons to take free seeds to plant, whether they are novice gardeners or experienced ones. 

“It hopefully feeds into some other thoughts and ideas and helps people question what it is that they are doing,” Middleton said. “They’re maybe maintaining a huge swath of lawn. Could they set aside a little corner and start to plan some things that are pollinator friendly, or food items just to help themselves or their neighbors take some pressure off buying groceries?”

“We’re trying to remind folks of all these different ways,” she added. “It doesn’t have to stay the same, just because that’s how you’ve always done it.” 

 Anyone who lives on or around campus is eligible for a library card. As an academic library, Sojourner Truth is focused on helping patrons with assignments and research, but students can travel a few blocks from campus and reap the benefits of both collections. The library is fine free, which means as long as patrons return checked out items, they incur no charges. 

Middleton said while people utilizing the Library of Things respect the items, accidents can happen. “It’s part of that community building is like we’re all going to take care of these things,” she said. “Occasionally, something happens, something gets spilled. That’s understandable for the most part. People are really great about that too.” 

In a world that can feel unaffordable and isolating, Elting Memorial Library sits in the heart of town, assisting anyone with a library card to its fullest extent. Whether you’re in New Paltz for college or it’s your permanent home, everyone should engage in what it has to offer. Community is within reach. 

“You don’t pick your community. You’re there to serve your community,” Middleton said.