Press Release from James Blackstone Memorial Library

What is a “Library of Things?” Exactly what it sounds like! It’s a special collection of non-traditional items that help you learn, connect, and create, and are available to borrow for free.

Branford’s James Blackstone Memorial Library has a Library of Things that is filled with equipment, tools, kits, cookware, and lawn games. You can borrow these things for up to two weeks at a time. They are not renewable and, while there are no overdue fines, you will be responsible for covering the cost of replacement, in part or in full, if anything is lost or damaged. Anyone wishing to borrow items from the Library of Things must review and sign a borrower’s agreement.

The Blackstone’s Library of Things was established with a generous donations from the Friends of the Blackstone Library, a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises funds on behalf of the library, combined with donations from individuals and other organizations, including the New Haven Astronomical Society and the Branford Conservation and Environment Commission.

The initial collection of a telescope, sewing machines, and other maker equipment was added in 2022 with the purchase of a collection of lawn games like croquet, giant tumbling blocks, ladder toss, and more. This past year, the friends gave additional funds to purchase household tools, a metal detector, a Nintendo Switch, a birdwatching kit, Apple Pencil, GoPro, cake pans, cookie cutters, a digital film scanner, and so much more. The Blackstone Library is always adding to the Library of Things, with an electric guitar kit, light therapy lamp, bike repair kit, and more all coming soon!

Go to blackstonelibrary.org/libraryofthings to view the current collection, learn more about each item, and reserve the item for borrowing. You may make a reservation for any item up to three months in advance.

The Blackstone Library also offers other non-traditional items like discount passes to area museums, a seed library, and early literacy backpacks that contain toys, puzzles, puppets, board books, and activity suggestions to help support early literacy learning. While visiting the library, you can also use a Prusa MK3 3D printer; LulzBot Taz 5 3D printer; Cricut Maker, a computerized cutting machine for crafting; Dell laptops; computers with Adobe Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements for photo and video editing; and a button maker.

Interested in donating items to the Blackstone’s collection? Contact them at 203-488-1441 or reference@blackstonelibrary.org.