Many libraries offer much more than books and museum passes. Through a Library of Things program, cardholders can borrow everything from hiking gear and state park passes to musical instruments, power tools, and kitchen equipment—often for two to three weeks at a time, completely free.
While every library offers different items, here are just a few things you might discover.
Outdoor Activities and Health & Fitness
🥾 Hiking Gear
🎒 Backpacking Kits
🔭 Telescopes
🦅 Birdwatching Kits
🎣 Fishing Poles
🚲 Electric Pedal-Assist Bikes (E-Bikes)
🏞️ State Park Passes
Health & Fitness
🏋️ Weights & Kettlebells
❤️ Blood Pressure Monitors
👟 Pedometers
🎾 Games – Pickleball Sets, Tennis Rackets, Badminton Sets
🥏 Lawn & Outdoor Games
Games & Entertainment
🎸Musical Instruments – Guitars, Violins, Keyboards
🎮 Video Games
♟️ Board Games
Home & DIY
🪚 Hand Tools
🔨 Power Tools
💦 Pressure Washers
Crafts & Hobbies
🧵 Sewing Machines
📷 Trail Cameras
🎞️ Slide & Film Viewers
🔎 Metal Detectors
🔭 Binoculars
🌱 Gardening Equipment
🍦 Ice Cream Makers & Specialty Cake Pans
Technology
💻 External CD/DVD Drives
💾 Floppy Disk Readers
📶 Mobile Hotspots
📚 Kindles & E-Readers
📀 Blu-ray Players
📸 Digital Cameras, Go Pros, Tripods, and Gimbles
💡 Pro Tip: Before buying a specialty item you’ll only use once, check your local library first. You may be surprised to find you can borrow it completely free.
👉 Explore my Free Library Museum Passes by State Directory, where you’ll find a growing list of library systems offering free museum passes and Library of Things programs.
