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New Jerseyans, have you visited your local library recently? If not, you may be in for a surprise.
Many Garden State State Libraries have a collection that includes more than just books and videos, and lend out a variety of equipment and gadgets. You can now rent power tools, snowshoes, various machines, musical instruments, etc.
“Libraries are so much more these days. We are places where exciting engagement happens, where we gather, learn, and discover,” said Erika Beth, deputy director of the Princeton Public Library. “When you come to the library, the world becomes yours. There are so many amazing things in the library.”
Beth said their library includes an adult nature expedition backpack with a compass, binoculars, magnifying glass, field guide, emergency weather radio, CO2 monitor, kill watt meter, portable power station, DVD player, smart It is said to include items such as a watch, a projector, and a Chromecast kit.
For younger users, there's the Toniebox digital audio player and the Little Thinker kit, which includes a variety of Tonies, small dolls that tell stories and sing songs on different themes when placed on top of the Toniebox player. . The Little Thinker kit also includes magnetic tiles for building shapes and structures and a Launchpad with commercial free learning apps.
Beth said anyone with a library card can access and check out materials in the Library of Things.
Becky Bowers, IT manager at the Princeton Public Library, said that when the COVID-19 health emergency began, patrons who relied on the library for computers were suddenly locked out.
“We received a lot of emails from parents who didn't have internet access at home, so one of the first things we did during the pandemic was actually expand Wi-Fi in the library.” said Mr. Bowers.
