Wednesday, May 8, 2024
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Vol. 53, No. 46
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
GAMES GALORE — Pat Birky shows off the variety of games, puzzles and LEGO sets that are available to borrow from the Nappanee Public Library.
‘Library of Things’
brings nontraditional items to Nappanee and Warsaw libraries
Text and Photos By KEITH KNEPP Staff Writer What should you do if you lost your wedding ring in the grass during a family picnic? Naturally, you should head to the library. A metal detector is one of the many useful items that are available for checkout from the “Library of Things” at the Nappanee Public Library. Other very nontraditional items available include an air fryer, leaf blower, a robot vacuum cleaner, games and LEGO sets. The library now has more than 200 items in the “Things” collection, all of which are available for its patrons age 11 and older. Another collection geared toward children ages 5-10 has been started, as well. “We’ve always had a ‘Library of Things,’ but we didn’t start calling it that until February 2021,” said Pat Birky, a longtime library staff member who is in charge of the collection. “We’ve always had artwork and cake pans you could check out. There are things that people may only need once or twice. You don’t want to go out and buy something that you only need once, or maybe you want to try something out before you buy it.” Birky said she chooses items for the special collection based not only on things she believes people would be interested in borrowing, but also on recommendations from her fellow staff members and even requests by library patrons. She also keeps an eye on other libraries who have their own “Library of Things” to see what they have purchased for their collections. Birky noted that Bristol and Middlebury libraries in Elkhart County
THESE ARE A FEW — Sarah Neel, information services assistant at Warsaw Community Public Library, shows off some of the items available for checkout through the library’s “Library of Things” collection, which is available to all cardholders. and Warsaw library in Kosciusko County also have similar collections. Warsaw’s program began in late 2017, according to Dana Owen, head of information services at the library. Their collection began with specialty cake pans and evolved further with games and puzzles. Owen said she has expanded the collection gradually during the last six years, adding things such as kitchen appliances, party equipment and outdoor tools. She echoed Birky’s sentiment that items in the collection are things patrons might not want to purchase for themselves, whether because of perceived usage, space or cost. “A lot of times, people will request something,” said Owen. “I
will also go out and look at other libraries’ websites to see what they have added to theirs and see if it’s something we’d like to try as well.” At both libraries, items can be placed on hold if they are already checked out to other people. Warsaw limits its patrons to have a maximum of two, checked-out pieces from the collection, but Nappanee does not have a limit. “Once people find out about it, they’re very excited,” said Birky. “We are sure to tell new patrons about it when they get their cards. We’re also working on better signage directing people to the ‘Library of Things.’” In Nappanee, you can check out the library’s website or its Instagram and Facebook pages to keep
FULL HANDS — Nappanee Public Library has a variety of nontraditional items available for borrowing, including a leaf blower, metal detector and pickleball equipment, as modeled by Pat Birky, who puts together the collection through her own ideas and the recommendation of staff members and library patrons. updated on the ever-growing “Library of Things.” Patrons can also stop by or call (574) 773-7919 with questions about the collection. Birky can be reached by email at PBirky@nappaneelibrary.org. For a list of items available in Warsaw, visit warsawlibrary.org/ explore/library-of-things-(lots) or stop by and see the collection for yourself. People can also call (574)
267-6011 with questions about the collection or anything else going on at the library. “Libraries are evolving, and they need to,” concluded Birky. “We need to be a place where people can check out more than just books. It’s becoming more about what patrons want, rather than what librarians might think they need.”