Borrow power tools and more from area libraries
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Check out a record player and more from the Library of Things at Sewickley Public Library. Photo: Courtesy of Sewickley Public Library
If you need a drill for handiwork or a telescope to stargaze, you can check those out from Pittsburgh-area libraries.
Why it matters: Local libraries want to help residents save money, so they encourage patrons to "try before they buy," check out tools they will only use once, or check out games for parties and gatherings, according to the Allegheny County Library Association's website.
The intrigue: Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh (CLP) launched its "Library of Things" collection in 2024, joining other county libraries in offering cardholders free rentals of items beyond books, like garden tools, board games, musical instruments and bakeware.
Zoom in: Gameplay is a big part of CLP's collection, adult collections coordinator Kristin Morgan tells Axios.
- CLP has a wide variety of board games, yard games, and role-playing games to check out.
- Giant Jenga and giant Connect 4 are among CLP's most popular items. There's also a mobile axe-throwing set that's fun (and safe, assures Morgan) and pickleball sets.
Zoom out: Braddock's library has a pottery wheel.
- Millvale is known for its power tools and stocks a pressure washer and a benchtop tile saw.
- Oakmont has a couple of sewing machines, and Bridgeville has a Nintendo Switch.
Pro tip: Check the catalog often, as many popular items are usually checked out and have long wait lists.
By the numbers: There are 1,124 items (not including musical instruments) in CLP's collection alone, says Morgan.
- CLP has seen nearly 5,600 checkouts since the start of its program.
Listen up: Musical instruments are also popular, and it's not just guitars, violins and drum pads.
- CLP Main in Oakland lends out three theremins, an electronic musical instrument that uses antennae to sense the performer's hand positions without physical contact.
Between the lines: Each library has a specialized collection based on its patron base, so don't expect the same items at each library.
Case in point: Richelle Klug, spokesperson for the Sewickley Public Library, says the Library of Things gives patrons an "opportunity to experiment and learn," so the collection is heavy on hobbies and includes a record player, digital cameras, a telescope and a bird-watching kit.
- The metal detector and magnet fishing kit are Sewickley's most popular items.
State of play: Some Library of Things items can be shipped to your local library, but not all, says Morgan, so check with your library before reserving.
What's next: Starting next year, CLP will check out DVD, CD and cassette players to accommodate a growing demand for physical media, says Morgan.