More than just books: Worcester's 'Library of Things' lends the public appliances and more

WORCESTER - Typically, a trip to the library is to rent a book or a video. What people may not know is they can also borrow a telescope, light therapy lamps, bike locks and more.

The Worcester Public Library's Library of Things offers these products and many more for any situation. Borrowing items works in the same way as one would borrow a book, all patrons need is a library card.

Library Executive Director Jason Homer said the creation of the Library of Things was "organic." It began with the library offering a telescope for borrowing as part of its partnership with the Aldrich Astronomical Society.

"When we had that kind of high-powered telescope, we kept thinking about other things that might be good to experience but maybe people can't afford," Homer said. "So we slowly started adding things."

Homer said the pandemic also played a part in expanding the Library of Things.

"While we were revisiting access, especially to laptops and hot spots and the pandemic, it just exploded," Homer said. "We're always going to try to improve access to the Library of Things, and really, at its core, our hope is to give people options."

That's good news for someone who might need a sewing machine to fix a small snag in a piece of clothing but cannot afford to purchase one themselves or only need it for a short period.

Worcester Public Library's Community Relations and Communications Manager Linnea Sheldon said the program has been popular. As of Friday, all items except for the bike locks were checked out.

"The person who checks out an item will get an email to come pick it up," Sheldon said. "When an item starts getting a long list, that's when we know we need to buy more."

Expansion of access to products that are typically more expensive and products that serve well as one-time uses is the goal of the program. For example, a family might want to have an outdoor movie night. Instead of purchasing a projector to use once or twice in its lifetime, families can borrow one for free. Any product can be borrowed for up to two weeks.

Homer said the library's most popular items are its Wi-Fi hot spots. The library recently added bike locks and light therapy lamps. Just last week, the library got a digital drum set. The drum set is not available to borrow yet but will be once the library gets a case for it.

"It's really rooted in the idea of giving people access to things that either they may not be able to afford, or they don't necessarily know if they need forever," Homer said.

Earlier last week at a Library of Things staff meeting, Homer said the group discussed ways to expand the program further.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Library of things' provides patrons with appliances and more to rent