Shelby County Public Library announces Library of Things Collections One and Two

Exciting things are being offered at the Shelby County Public Library. To be precise, a growing collection of unconventional items called the Library of Things was made available to the public by the end of 2024.

An innovative assortment, the Library of Things allows SCPL cardholders age 18 or older to access a selection of useful, practical, educational, and recreational items ranging from garden tools to museum passes. It’s a definite departure from the traditional books, CDs, and movies that most people have come to associate with libraries.

Both the main library in Shelbyville and the Velma Wortman Morristown branch are participating locations for the Library of Things, which was partially funded by grants from the Wortman Family Foundation through the Blue River Community Foundation.

The items offered in the collection were determined after reviewing community feedback and researching similar collections at other Indiana libraries.

The newest “things” are a telescope, a metal detector, and a microscope; a complete list is located in the My Library drop-down menu on myshelbylibrary.com.

Patrons can also search for items through the Evergreen Indiana catalog.

The library will continue to add items as research, requests, and need becomes apparent and as funds allow, according to Morristown branch head Cat Roberts. New items will be highlighted in the Wowbrary newsletter, via social media, and in the physical displays.

Five items can be checked out at once. Most items can be renewed one time, with the exception of the most popular ones – 5G mobile internet hotspots and Indiana State Museum passes.

Items must be returned to a circulation desk at either branch. There is a $5 late fee per day for hotspots; $2 for all other late items. If an item is lost or damaged, a replacement fee based on the cost of the item will be charged to the patron.

Additionally, the Morristown branch offers a seed library which is on record with the Office of the Indiana State Chemist. It operates under different rules from the regular Library of Things. There is no expectation of returning seeds in the usual sense, but donations from patrons, staff, and even seed companies are appreciated to keep the library growing.

For further information about the Library of Things, or to make suggestions about additions to the collection, call the main library at (317) 398-7121 or the Morristown branch at (765) 818-1718.

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