You checked out WHAT at the library?!?
Submitted by tim.spindle on Thu, 10/10/2013 - 11:18
In addition to the items shown in the video, some library systems have begun "loaning" seeds. (Other seed libraries, not affiliated with a library system, have sprung up, including in Tulsa.) There are even libraries loaning out people. What do you think of libraries lending these non-traditional items? Does this help to foster community? Could you forsee Metro ever checking out such non-traditional items and if so, what might those items be?
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It is interesting that you bring this up. We've been following some of these trends at our library and have some interest in things like seed libraries and "people" libraries. What we have yet to figure our is how to do something like this. Perhaps have a set day to "check out people" (along the lines of Homework Help). It is definitely an interesting idea and certainly helps fulfill our MLS vision of being an inviting, innovative link to the world. Have other branches discussed these ideas?
Telescopes (http://nhastro.com/ltp.php) always sounded like a pretty reasonable thing for libraries to check out. You can get a very solid telescope for about twice the price of a big audiobook, and it feels more closely aligned with our mission as an information source than tools or baking pans.
Some libraries are also loaning cake pans:
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/06/library-services/let-them-lend-cake...
I thought the cake pan idea had some good points as they could be promoted along with the cookbooks, require no maintenance and would be unlikely to become unsafe. But, like a lot of these other non-traditional collections space is an issue. Maybe libraries should be loaning something smaller - like knitting needles?
A former MC Library Board member introduced me to the idea of 'checking out' people. We discussed the idea of making available people from various parts of the world, who could be dressed in their cultural tradition and then provide information to those interested. Even though the person could be 'reserved' and even 'checked out', he/she would not leave the library.
Personally, I love the idea of providing the unusual for checkout.
Or how helpful would it be to spend 30 minutes with a plumber or an electrician?