BORROWING IDEA HAS BECOME. KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE EXPLAINS. MIKE: FROM UKULELES TO CORN HOLE, LAWN EQUIPMENT TO TELESCOPES TO GROW PROS, SACRAMENTO LIBRARY CONTINUES TO PROVE IT IS LENDING OUT WAY MORE THAN OLD-FASHIONED BOOKS. AND ALL AT NO COST. >> ALL THESE THINGS ARE FREE. THE LIBRARY WANTED PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE THINGS HOME. MIKE: SINCE 2015 THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN LENDING OUT THINGS. GO ONLINE TO FIND EVERYTHING FROM LAWN EQUIPMENT FOR WEEKEND JOBS TO A FULL-SIZED SKELETON FOR HOMESCHOOLING. >> IT IS CHECKED OUT ON OCTOBER 31. MIKE: SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN THE NUMBER OF ITEMS AS ALMOST DOUBLED EACH YEAR, ON PACE FOR 2000 CHECKOUTS THIS YEAR. MORE ITEMS ARE ABOUT TO ARRIVE. >> WE ARE GOING TO ADD A HIKING KIT AND A BIRDING KIT, A ROTOTILLER. AS WE HEAR WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR, THOSE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT. MIKE: AGAIN, THE PROGRAM IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. ALL YOU NEED TO BORROW FROM HERE
From power washers to telescopes, Library of Things grows in Sacramento County
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Updated: 12:56 PM PDT Sep 26, 2019
From power washers to telescopes, ukuleles to GoPros, the Sacramento Public Library's popular Library of Things program is expanding once again. And the items will continue to be loaned for free.>> Download the KCRA 3 app"All you need is a library card," said Thomas Gruneisen, head librarian of the Fair Oaks branch."We think that checking out a book on how to play the guitar is good, but if you can check out the guitar with the book, that's quite a bit better," he added. Since beginning the program in 2015, the borrowing of things other than books from the library has nearly doubled in growth every year, according to data released by the Sacramento Public Library.How often items are borrowed: 2016 (October to December): 336 times2017: 898 times2018: 1,354 times2019: (through August) 1,346 timesIn May, the library opened a second location in the Fair Oaks library branch in order to meet continued demand. The first location was the Arcade library.Among the most popular items borrowed are pressure washers, telescopes and power lawn equipment."In the next two weeks, we're going to add a hiking kit and a birding kit, a rototiller. As we hear what our community is looking for, those are the things we're looking to add," Gruneisen said.A list of items available for loan is posted on the Sacramento Public Library's website. Some items have a wait list.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — From power washers to telescopes, ukuleles to GoPros, the Sacramento Public Library's popular Library of Things program is expanding once again. And the items will continue to be loaned for free.
>> Download the KCRA 3 app
"All you need is a library card," said Thomas Gruneisen, head librarian of the Fair Oaks branch.
"We think that checking out a book on how to play the guitar is good, but if you can check out the guitar with the book, that's quite a bit better," he added.
Since beginning the program in 2015, the borrowing of things other than books from the library has nearly doubled in growth every year, according to data released by the Sacramento Public Library.
How often items are borrowed:
- 2016 (October to December): 336 times
- 2017: 898 times
- 2018: 1,354 times
- 2019: (through August) 1,346 times
In May, the library opened a second location in the Fair Oaks library branch in order to meet continued demand. The first location was the Arcade library.
Among the most popular items borrowed are pressure washers, telescopes and power lawn equipment.
"In the next two weeks, we're going to add a hiking kit and a birding kit, a rototiller. As we hear what our community is looking for, those are the things we're looking to add," Gruneisen said.
A list of items available for loan is posted on the Sacramento Public Library's website. Some items have a wait list.
