The “Library of Things” Is Coming to the Library

By Kirk Johnson, Prince William Public Libraries Materials Services Division

Do you need a thermal sensor to identify hot and cool spots in your home? Want to try a sleep machine before investing in one? Grab your library card—with Prince William Public Libraries’ new Library of Things, we’ve got you covered.

Libraries have carried more than books and other printed materials, such as magazines and maps, for a long time. Decades ago, libraries began offering media, including cassettes, records, films, and videotapes. PWPL has also offered access to nontraditional items such as SAD lamps, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and Chromebooks for years.

This August, PWPL will launch its new Library of Things—a growing collection of useful, fun, and unexpected items available for patrons to borrow.

A Library of Things is a collection of nontraditional items that public libraries across the country make available for patrons, reimagining what a library collection can be. PWPL’s collection will include tools, games, and other products that let patrons try a musical instrument, tackle home-maintenance projects, watch movies while traveling, retrieve data from old CD-ROMs, and more—without having to buy items they may use only occasionally.

Browse the Library of Things at bit.ly/PWPLlibraryofthings and place a hold through the Online Catalog. Unique items include a four-person pickleball set, a keyboard piano, and even a pressure washer. Items will be sent to the patron’s preferred branch for pickup.

The Library of Things is another way PWPL is committed to meeting the needs of our community, and this is only the beginning. PWPL plans to continue adding items based on community interest and demand, so check the website often for new additions.