Library Of Things Voting Ends Tuesday

It's not just books at the Sacramento Public Library anymore. You may soon be able to check out things like tools and cameras. Tomorrow's the last day to cast your vote for the "Library of Things." It's a project to offer new items at the Arcade branch.

The voting's been going on since last fall. And already, the library has bought some of the most in-demand items: sewing machines, laminators and a bike-repair station. Lori Easterwood with the library says they'll also be offering people classes on how to use these things.

"So we'll have bike repair classes," says Easterwood, "we'll have sewing classes. I don't know that laminators need a class, but we may be able to come up with a craft of some kind."

Offering more than just books at the library isn't new. What is new, says Easterwood, is asking people to vote. Easterwood says for a long time, many libraries have circulated non-book items. 

"Berkeley's had a tool library for 30 years," says Easterwood, "and our own Sacramento Public Library has a couple of seed-lending libraries at some of our locations. So it's not entirely new. But the idea of voting for items is a bit of a new thing for us."

She says money to buy the sewing machines and other items comes from a $55,000 federal grant.

"The other parts," says Easterwood, "have to do with library staff training, some technology that will be installed at the Arcade branch, a bit of money for promotion."

Easterwood says they hope to start offering "Library of Things" items for checkout by the end of this month.