Inspired by me learning that I can check out solar panels (hiking sized, not house sized) at the library.
Fishing rods/tackle
My library has really good access to online catalogs with ebooks, audiobooks, music, and movies. I rarely come across a fiction book I want to read that isn’t available, all without even having to go into the physical library.
“Lots of books” may not be the answer you were expecting, but the volume of media they have access to is truly notable compared to any other library system I’ve ever been a member of.
There’s been a big bump in board games at my library, which I love and I’ve donated to, and one by my sister’s place has a whole tool lending library. Seems super nice for folks that need a power drill once every few years.
That’s cool. What was your latest find?
We are going for board games all the time. My son is six and he loves them
Just found Survive (but the original 1982 one, not the reprint), which we’d played a bunch growing up, and it was perfect to play through a couple games of it for nostalgia’s sake without having to buy a game I wouldn’t actually play much at all beyond that.
Looks great, gameplay seems interesting and I guess it’s something for my 7yo son, too.
Theremin
A robot set for children. The robot is called Dash. It can be programmed with a tablet or laptop using special apps with a neat UI. We had one for two weeks and it was a lot of fun.
Original art (paintings and sculptures) by local artists. They csn be checked out for three months at a time. It’s really nice to have some original art in your home even if it it’s not by a big name.
Also, I can easily access most of my country’s important newspapers’ online articles that are normally behind a paywall.
Damn, renting out art? That’s actually pretty cool.
My library has a banned book clubs for teenagers.
Books don’t get banned in my country, but they read and discuss books that are banned in other countries.
Also, you can check out a kill-a-watt to monitor your electricity consumption.
Passes to local museums, gardens, and attractions.
Can’t take it home, but I’m currently testing out the 3D printers at my local. They also have a 3D scanner.
a metal detector and a bocce ball set
My library has something called discovery kits. They’re large bags with everything you would need to try out a specific activity. There’s all sorts of things, including metal detectors, sewing, astronomy, photography, microscopes, vacuums, anatomy, bike repair, circuits, and so many more. The thing I love about these is that they’re not just a few books about the topic, they really have everything you need. The photography kit has a camera, astronomy has a telescope, sewing has a sewing and embroidery machine, etc.
Tools, it’s really handy when I needed a thermal camera for a project and didn’t feel like spending hundreds for a tool that would get used once.
How is the renting process for those?
At least at my library, there’s basically just a separate form you have to sign to say that if you chop your hand off with a saw, you won’t hold them liable, and I think there are more strict limits on how long you can rent things, and what the penalties are for being late.
When I was in college, I found a hand-bound report from the Department of the Treasury, written in 1939, about the financial situation in Nanking during the Japanese occupation. I was writing a report about the Rape of Nanking for a history class, and I stumbled upon it while searching the university library.
I was shocked that it wasn’t in their archives, and even more shocked that they let me check it out.
Car
edit: Electric car from Toyota.
Seriously? Cool!
I’m just old enough to clearly remember pre-internet life and library use, so the coolest thing my library has in my opinion is the huge catalogue of books available at my fingertips through their app. No physical item to worry about means no risk of late fees either, it just returns itself if I don’t before the rental is up.
There are, like, household tools and stuff available as well as a good catalogue of movies on disc. I avail myself of those now and again, but I constantly have a book or two borrowed. That’ll always be my favorite thing my library has.
I use my public library app for reading too. However I am surprised how limited the selection is. It seems like every book I look for is unavailable online as well as on paper. I guess that’s what life is like when you prefer non-fiction.
