Buzz
When you think of a library, you likely picture shelves brimming with books. But did you know that there are libraries for lending everything from musical instruments to living beings? If you know where to look, almost anything can be borrowed these days!
10. Tool Lending Libraries
Ever found yourself in need of a specific tool just for a short-term project? That's where tool lending libraries come in. These community-driven libraries offer everything from power drills to ladders and even jackhammers. The first of its kind opened in Columbus, OH, back in 1976, and now over 4,800 tools are available for those who don’t want to buy pricey tools they may only use once.
Since then, tool lending libraries have spread globally, helping neighbors share resources and complete their projects. So the next time you're in need of a drain snake or a saw, consider checking out your local tool lending library!
Locate your nearest tool library now!
9. Toy Lending Libraries
Children grow up quickly and outgrow their toys even faster. Toy libraries aim to give these toys a second life, or even prevent them from being purchased at all. Often found as part of traditional book libraries, these toy libraries allow kids to borrow toys, saving parents money while keeping plastic out of landfills.
The oldest continuously running toy library is located in LA County. It was established in 1935 by a store owner who noticed children taking toys without permission, so he decided to lend them out for free. Today, the program serves 35,000 children annually, providing them with one of the most essential childhood experiences: play.
U.S. readers can discover their local toy library or explore the International Toy Library Association.
8. Musical Instrument Lending Libraries
Interested in learning to play the ukulele? The Musical Instrument Lending Library in Brooklyn offers eight of them, along with guitars, cowbells, and steel drums. Another location, the “M.I.Brary” in Lafayette, even offers an accordion! This unique initiative was founded by Dr. Ryan Cazares, who posed the question, “What if there’s a Grammy-winning artist among us who doesn’t even know it because they can’t afford an instrument?”
These public resources provide anyone with the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or simply experiment with different instruments to see what clicks, helping make the world a more melodious place.
Several community libraries also lend out musical instruments for checkout.
7. Gear Lending Libraries
Spending time outdoors is beneficial for all ages, but the cost of camping, hiking, and backpacking gear can easily reach hundreds of dollars before you even leave the house. That’s where gear libraries come in, offering equipment for casual adventurers.
Families in Nature operates one such library in Texas, providing gear to outfit at least 100 campers at a time with tents, sleeping pads, backpacks, and headlamps—everything needed to get outside and explore. The Mountaineers’ gear library in Washington even offers winter sports gear like skis, with a mission to make outdoor recreation more inclusive and accessible, especially for struggling or underserved communities.
Gear libraries are an invaluable resource for helping communities experience the outdoors and enjoy nature to the fullest!
6. Puzzle Lending Libraries
If you have a forgotten puzzle gathering dust in your cupboard, why not donate it to a puzzle library, where puzzle lovers can satisfy their passion? The online Jigsaw Puzzle Swap Exchange has facilitated over 6,100 puzzle swaps, allowing members to request specific puzzles or fill out their preferences to receive ones that match their interests.
5. Seed Lending Libraries
A seed library offers both educational opportunities and nourishment. Gardeners ‘borrow’ seeds during planting season and return a portion of the seeds from the plants they grow, allowing future gardeners to use them. For many seed libraries, the main goal is to preserve local biodiversity by collecting rare and heirloom varieties that are hard to find elsewhere.
The Global Seed Vault in Svalbard uses thick rock and permafrost to store backups of over a million crop seed varieties, protecting the world from the loss of essential food sources—but it remains closed unless disaster strikes. In the meantime, local seed libraries circulate these varieties, ensuring that they continue to evolve and adapt to the local environment. This also gives children the chance to learn about where their food comes from, while helping gardeners preserve plant diversity in their communities.
Check out the global list of seed libraries!
4. Board Game Lending Libraries
Board game libraries, a beloved pastime during the pandemic, offer communities an excellent social outlet. With the vast array of games available, no one family can own them all. These libraries bring together players from diverse backgrounds and languages (thanks to language-neutral games like Qwirkle), creating a sense of community and cooperation—or simply ensuring everyone can team up against Grandma.
Some game libraries allow you to borrow board games, while others offer a pay-to-play option on-site, charging an hourly fee. Clever librarians even use 3D printers to replace lost or missing pieces, ensuring that the fun never has to stop!
3. Library of Things
If you still haven't found what you need, try a library of things. This part of the global movement toward reducing waste and encouraging a sharing economy offers everything from party supplies to sewing machines.
Libraries of Things can be found around the world, including the Sharing Depot in Ontario and Leila in Berlin. Rebecca Trevalyan, the founder of one such library in London, explained, “We were students in London, living in tiny houses with little extra space and not much disposable income… We didn’t need to buy and own sewing machines, drills, lawnmowers, and sound systems, but occasionally we did need them, and it would have been great to access them.”
Libraries of things do more than just save money: they foster a sense of community by creating shared resources that allow neighbors to lend what they need, whether it’s a lawnmower or simply a helping hand. These libraries also have an environmental impact, similar to others on this list, preventing money from being wasted and ensuring that unused or leftover items don’t end up in landfills.
Libraries are invaluable to the communities they serve, offering far more than just books! Whether you need to borrow a ten-person tent, some rainbow carrot seeds, or even a fresh perspective, there’s a library that can help you out. Have you explored any of these unique libraries? Now that you know what's available, what will you borrow next?
2. Human Library
The saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” rings truer than ever at the Human Library, or “Menneskebiblioteket” in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here, the human “books” are volunteers who represent marginalized or stigmatized groups, such as people with autism, naturists, or those with extreme body modifications. The non-profit library allows visitors to engage in conversations with these individuals, providing an opportunity for dialogue and understanding. Its mission is to challenge prejudice and foster a more inclusive society.
Since its opening week in 2000, which saw over a thousand visitors, The Human Library has expanded to over 80 countries worldwide. So next time you’re trying to understand someone’s perspective, why not ‘borrow’ them and ask? They’re even developing an app!
1. Sourdough Library
Attention all bakers! The Puratos Sourdough Library, located in Sankt Vith, Belgium, is home to sourdough cultures from across the globe. Over a hundred bakers from 23 different countries have contributed their samples to help preserve this important aspect of their heritage. The collection also includes 2,501 starters that are registered online, with lab tests showing more than 1,400 unique strains of wild yeast and lactic bacteria.
Established in 1989 by the bakery supply company Puratos, this library continues to grow—pun intended! All cultures are sourced from spontaneous fermentation, not commercial starters. These cultures are carefully stored in mason jars and kept in a controlled environment, receiving a refresh of their original flour every two months to maintain their unique legacy. Dough librarian Karl De Smedt has called these bubbling cultures “nothing less than history.” While there’s currently only one sourdough library, you can take a virtual tour of its fascinating collection.
