Patrons Can Borrow Games, Toys, Musical Instruments, and More at No Cost
The Dartmouth Public Library’s new Library of Things collection includes fun and helpful items for children and adults! Want to try out a karaoke machine or need a Kill-a-Watt Meter to see how much electricity an appliance is using? These items are now part of the Southworth and North Branch Library collections!
“The staff is beyond excited to offer a Library of Things to the community, and we look forward to expanding this collection soon. Items will be added based on community feedback, and we encourage our patrons to communicate their interests with us,” said Dina St. Pierre, Director of Libraries for the Town of Dartmouth.
The Library of Things is a collection of items that moves beyond the traditional materials found at a library. From a portable DVD player to pickleball paddles, the Dartmouth Public Library provides patrons with free access to a collection of items that encourages exploration, waste reduction, and learning, all while saving money. Below is a list of items available to borrow:
- Family fun items at Southworth and North Branch: astronaut projector, bubble machine, beach toys, fort building kit, gear bots, binoculars, globe, Mr. Pencil® Scribble, Write and Read, a toy guitar and maracas, glow-in-the-dark Marble Run, microscope, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game, and wooden Tetris puzzles.
- Helpful items at Southworth and North Branch: Kill-a-Watt Meter and hotspots. A hotspot is a wireless access point that lets you connect phones, tablets, computers, and other devices to the internet when you are on the go.
- Additional cool items at the North Branch Library: Binoculars, Blu Ray player, compact keyboard, CD player, cornhole set, foldable garden kneeler seat, gardening tools, giant 4 in a row game, portable photo studio light box, karaoke machine, food dehydrator machine, portable DVD player, pickleball paddles, round knitting looms set, sewing machine, ukulele, ring toss game, and a yarn winder.
“Rather than multiple families purchasing games and tools, possibly to use for a short time, the whole community can benefit by reusing these items. Reuse leads to less waste. People can try items out and decide if they want to buy them for their homes, rather than buy, try, and trash.” said Marissa Perez-Dormitzer, Waste Reduction Manager from the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District.
Interested in borrowing an item from the Library of Things? Items are available for checkout for a week with a SAILS Library card. Borrowers must be 18 years and older.
The Library of Things is funded by the Dartmouth Public Library, the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, and a grant awarded to the Town of Dartmouth from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Southworth Library is open Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm and Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm.
North Branch Library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday, 9 am to 8 pm, and Thursday, Noon to 8 pm.
For more information, please call your local branch of the Dartmouth Public Library.
- Southworth Library | 732 Dartmouth Street | 508-999-0726
- North Branch Library | 211 Cross Road | 508-999-0728