Who was going to tell me I could get a drill kit , an air fryer , andevery book in theTwilightsaga all in one sojourn …
If you’re anything like me, you’re a library diehard.
Books? We got ‘em. Public computers, Wi-Fi, and printers? We’re using ‘em. Fishing gear? Def — wait, what?
That’s right! (I was shocked, too.) Local libraries have about a zillion things to offer, and it doesn’t stop at books.
Over onr/Libraries,u/grizzlyblake91posed thequestion: “What’s the coolest/neatest thing you can use or check out at your local library?”
They started the conversation with their own answer : " At mine ( OKC Metro Library ) , they have 3D printers ( subject your print postulation and they print it for free , with some stipulation ) . They also have push button manufacturing business , stitchery machines , leather workings tools , a Cricut ship’s boat , and more . At the local program library where my parents dwell ( Manatee Public Library in Florida ) , they have video cameras and podcast equipment , which is really coolheaded ( I wish I had that at my depository library ) . "
Ummm, so cool. Here’s what other redditors had to share:
1.“Telescope. I checked it out when my 7-year-old cousin came to visit.”
2.“I thought the fishing poles available to check out were pretty cool.”
— u / JayneT70
And if your subroutine library does n’t have them:“Check out TackleShare . The same group that patronize the fishing rods in library also has them in other spot like provincial parks and preservation area . You still need a sportfishing license except on liberal fishing Clarence Day when I ’m sure they are extremely democratic . "
— u / nimble - Singer-754
3.“We (university library) have a makers space, studio, crossword puzzles and board games, and DVDs to check out.”
— atomic number 92 / Pokedea_Quidnunc
4.“My library has a 3D printer and a Glowforge that you can use in the library.”
5.“Library passes for our town’s local and NYC museums (NJ library). Knife sharpener, video to digital converter, upholstery cleaner, drill set, plus more.”
— u / Pkustki
6.“A recording room! Includes three different camera angles, a control board, lighting, microphones, and a few different backgrounds.”
7.“We also have a seed library where you can take seeds to plant for free, and people can donate seeds they are not using.”
8.“I was recently at a library in Montana that lent out cake pans of different shapes!”
9.“I don’t have Wi-Fi at my house, so I’m always borrowing one of the mobile hotspots they have. That is definitely the most useful.”
— u / reptomcraddick
10.“Chromebook, laptop, and hotspot bundles. Also, memory kits for seniors.”
— atomic number 92 / Kit3399
11.“Passes to the Georgia state parks, Zoo Atlanta, Alliance Theatre, museums, and other cool places around the state.”
12.“Our library has a secondary branch, which is a toy library. You do have to pay a membership fee, but you can really get your money’s worth. 1,900 toys, games, puzzles, costumes, and ride-ons.”
— u / Mycatissnootsy
13.“Metal detector! Also, VHS to DVD converter.”
— u / Spelltomes
14.“Yarn baller! We have a large library of things, but that is one of the most popular. We used to have inflatable kayaks, but the liability insurance became too much. We also have rental bikes spring through fall.”
15.“Spinning wheels and carding machines, or everything you need to DJ an event. I thought that it was really cool that my local library had them to check out when we first moved here.”
16.“One thing I LOVE about my job is when I issue a new card and get to tell the patron you now have access to check out binoculars, portable projectors, musical instruments, jigsaw puzzles, pickleball racquets, disc golf kits, blood pressure monitors, oral history kits, and more. Plus, we have a $5 free computer printing credit every month. Especially when it is someone who hasn’t been to the library in a loooong time, their astonishment at the free resources is always a high point of my day.”
— u / AmiedesChats
17.“I checked out akaraokemachine today for a party this weekend.”
18.“Fitness equipment.”
— u / Funny_Dinner9936
19.“One of mine has a Library of Things. Just stuff that you might need once in a while but not every day.”
— u / toapoet
20.“One-off tools are great. My town library has a pole digger and a bulb planter that I’ve borrowed. I had to fix a fence post, and I planted about 700 bulbs when I moved in. Granted, the bulb planter isn’t a lot of money, but it was great to be able to use it and then pass it on to the next person (so to speak).”
21.“Mine has all sorts of things! Tools, sewing machines, air fryers, candy molds, camping equipment, the list goes on. It’s a fantastic resource, especially if you don’t use those things often and don’t want to spend a lot of money for the one time you need them or want to try something before investing in it.”
— u / larkerene
22.“We started having yard games people can borrow. So far it seems to be working out. Got a party? Come check out cornhole or lawn darts. 🎯”
23.“We have little adventurer backpacks that come with binoculars, rulers, and nature journals they can write in and keep; it’s pretty cute. At my mom’s library system, they have American Girl Dolls.”
— u / moopsy75567
24.“Puppets.”
25.“Not trying to be a smart aleck, but BOOKS. All that other stuff is cool, but books are another person’s thoughts. That’s unbelievable magic. Books can change your brain, change your life, and maybe even save your life. The whole reason people love libraries in the first place, even if they’re not readers themselves, has to do with the mystique of books and the curation of knowledge.”
— u / RespectableStreet
" The curation of knowledge goes beyond book . I of late did a STEM class with some 5th grader , and one kidskin exclaim , ' Look ! I ’m using a screwdriver ! I ’ve never used tool before ! ' I ’ll be riding that gamey for a farsighted prison term . "
— u / MamaMoosicorn
Note : Submissions have been blue-pencil for length and/or lucidity .
