When I think of libraries, the first image that comes to mind is shelves upon shelves of books. I absolutely love wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles to see what treasures lie within. Picking at books and reading their synopsis, the words of others transport me, to faraway places and experiences. I am sure the same holds true for you, but did you know there are other hobbies you can try at the library?
While libraries were built on books, they are rapidly changing to accommodate the varied interests that patrons have today. So to the hobbyist, libraries are a treasure trove. You can borrow hobby items, free of charge, to to try them out before fully committing to a hobby. Libraries should be your first go-to if you’re interested in trying something new.
Here are just a few examples of items that you can borrow at a variety of libraries in the Lower Mainland:
Birdwatching backpacks
Birdwatching (or “birding”) is a growing trend with young people who wish to reconnect with nature. It is now one of the fastest growing pastimes in North America! The Fraser Valley Regional Library Birdwatching Backpacks are now part of The Playground at FVRL. Each backpack will contain a pair of binoculars, a couple of books on birds, and a customer survey.
Cameras and Camcorders
Photography and videography has been seeing an increase of popularity with many people wanting to give it a try, but the price tag can be a bit steep. The Burnaby Public Library, Tommy Douglas branch, has cameras, camcorders, and other equipment available to lend. The library computer lab is also a great space for working with photos and video offering access to Photoshop Elements, Premier Elements, and iMovie.
Musical Instruments
Learning a musical instrument has never been easier. With free access to Lynda.com, you can try your hand at anything. The Vancouver Public Library’s Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library offers a collection of instruments that you can borrow with your library card. The collection is located at the Central Library, and the instruments can be found by searching the library catalogue.
Seeds
Many people would like to try their hand at growing their own food. The Seed Library at the Surrey Public Library offers free access to seeds and supports local gardeners in saving seed at home. They are a living seed exchange, sharing varieties of regionally adapted, open pollinated and self-fertile seeds.
Telescopes
These handy tools allow us to see things that are too far to see with the naked eye. These can be used to check out comets, astronomical events, and examine the stars and planets in the night sky. The Coquitlam
Public Library now lends out telescope kits. Each kit includes a Skywatcher Heritage 76 Dobsonian telescope with its own carrying case, 2 eyepieces, and a guidebook and simple instructions.
These are just a few examples for the hobbyist in you. If you’re curious about the many ‘non-book’ materials available at your library, simply head to their websites and start exploring. There are many treasures for each of us to find. Happy searching!