{"id":110395,"date":"2026-05-29T14:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/saws-sewing-machines-and-telescopes-the-surprising-things-on-loan-from-your-library\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:26:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:26:02","slug":"saws-sewing-machines-and-telescopes-the-surprising-things-on-loan-from-your-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/saws-sewing-machines-and-telescopes-the-surprising-things-on-loan-from-your-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Saws, Sewing Machines and Telescopes: The Surprising Things on Loan From Your Library"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u201cMy brother-in-law is an electronic musician, and he has the same gear,\u201d he said. I\u2019m like, wow, this is a legit instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saria originally checked out the drum machine for his 5-year-old daughter, who had become fascinated with the music of German electronic band Kraftwerk. They wanted to show her how electronic music gets made.<\/p>\n

While the instrument ultimately proved a little too advanced for a kindergartner,<\/p>\n

\u201cI<\/em> had fun with it,\u201d Saria said.<\/p>\n

His experience wasn\u2019t a one-off. Across the Bay Area, libraries are lending out far more than books. Patrons can check out musical instruments, home-improvement tools, induction cooktops<\/a>, sewing machines, telescopes, bicycles, toys, gardening kits, Wi-Fi hotspots and even passes to state parks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Patrons work on tasks in the Mill Valley Public Library in Mill Valley on May 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of these collections fall under what libraries commonly call a \u201cLibrary of Things\u201d<\/a> \u2014 a growing movement that allows patrons to borrow everyday objects, technology, tools and experiences. While offerings vary by library system, the goal is to expand access while reducing the burden of purchasing items outright.<\/p>\n

As Bay Area residents navigate rising costs<\/a>, smaller living spaces<\/a> and a growing desire to buy less and share more<\/a>, libraries are increasingly becoming places where people can try new hobbies, learn new skills and access experiences they might otherwise be unable to afford \u2014 all through these free rentals.<\/p>\n

The diverse offerings and their availability at no cost are a testament to the services a public library provides, said Anji Brenner, a city librarian at Mill Valley Public Library. Whether a library card holder is checking out a book, a tool or a sewing machine \u2014 or gathering with others under the bookstacks \u2014 it all speaks to the larger public library mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re rich or poor,\u201d she said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what you look like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of those things don\u2019t matter \u2014 you\u2019re welcome here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Creativity: Where to find musical instruments, karaoke machines, sewing machines, craft kits and more<\/h2>\n

The drum machine was just one of many surprising things Saria\u2019s family had checked out from the library. \u201cIt almost feels like a secret,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople should know more about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve also rented ukuleles and experimented with Makey Makey kits: electronic sets that can turn bananas and other objects into musical instruments<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The San Mateo Public Library stands on 55 W 3rd Ave in San Mateo on April 17, 2026. (T\u00e2m V\u0169\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt makes the library way more interesting,\u201d Saria said. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to see what\u2019s available to bring home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Libraries across the Bay Area offer collections built around creative experimentation: musical instruments, art tools, karaoke machines, record players, sewing machines and hobby equipment.<\/p>\n

Karaoke machines are available to loan out at the Belvedere-Tiburon Public Library, San Mateo County Libraries, Santa Clara County Library District and Sunnyvale Public Library, among others.<\/p>\n

At the Mill Valley Public Library, Brenner said many people use the library as a place to experiment before committing to an expensive purchase.<\/p>\n

A resident recently borrowed a weaving loom as they considered whether to pursue weaving long-term. \u201cBefore you fork over $600, you might want to see how something works and if it works for you,\u201d Brenner said.<\/p>\n

That same thinking extends to sewing machines, which are among the library\u2019s most popular items. \u201cMaybe I want to check it out, buy a simple pattern and see if I can even make it through <\/em>a simple pattern,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Power tools line shelves at the Oakland Tool Lending Library in Oakland on May 21, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In response to demand, sewing machines have become increasingly common to find for loan across Bay Area library systems, including the Marin County Free Library, the Mill Valley Public Library, the Santa Clara County Library District, the Sunnyvale Public Library, the San Mateo County Libraries and the Redwood City Public Library.<\/p>\n

Some libraries allow residents to take the machine home, while others will ask you to use it at the library itself.<\/p>\n

Besides weaving looms and sewing machines, the Marin County Free Library offers kits for embroidery, crochet and knitting, jewelry making and quilting.<\/p>\n

DIY: Where to find home improvement and gardening tools and supplies<\/h2>\n

For Oakland homeowner and DIY enthusiast Isaac Kelly, his local public library has been essential. \u201cIf it\u2019s something I\u2019m going to use once a year or less, I\u2019ll absolutely check the library first,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Kelly regularly borrows tools from Oakland Public Library\u2019s renowned tool-lending collection. The program traces its roots to rebuilding efforts following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake<\/a> and the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm, in response to community demand.<\/p>\n

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Isaac Kelly uses a tamper checked out from the Oakland Tool Lending Library at his home in Oakland on May 20, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recently, Kelly took home an SDS drill \u2014 a heavy-duty concrete drill roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase. Next on his list: a soil compactor for a paving project. The alternative would be spending hundreds of dollars on tools he expects to use only once.<\/p>\n

\u201cHousing is scarce. Space is scarce,\u201d Kelly said. But borrowing tools, he said, is also about more than affordability. \u201cBeing able to do things yourself is empowering,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Oakland residents Rosa and Aralya Yee-Phinith discovered the same thing while building a backyard deck at their home. The project stretched across several months and required rotary hammer drills, shovels and concrete-breaking tools \u2014 many of which they borrowed from Oakland\u2019s tool lending library.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt saved a huge chunk of money,\u201d Rosa Yee-Phinith said.<\/p>\n

The couple had already spent heavily on construction materials and didn\u2019t want to spend even more on tools they might rarely use again. (This author, who is friends with the Yee-Phiniths, can attest that their deck turned out very nicely.)<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s tool lending program includes all types of saws \u2014 including circular, pruning and reciprocating ones \u2014 along with drills, sledgehammers and caulking guns, among others.<\/p>\n

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Rosendo Molina works checking in tools at the Oakland Tool Lending Library in Oakland on May 21, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for other cities around the Bay, the Berkeley public library offers a similar tool lending program to Oakland\u2019s. And while not as extensive, the Sunnyvale Public Library has a manual lawn mower, orbital sanders, screwdrivers, hex-key sets and a collapsible hand truck available to residents.<\/p>\n

Gardening enthusiasts can find tools like soil block presses, fruit pickers and weeding tools at libraries, including those in Oakland, Berkeley, Sunnyvale and Marin County. Residents can also obtain seeds to start their own vegetable garden <\/a>at libraries, including Marin, Fremont and Oakland.<\/p>\n

Outdoors: Where to find bicycles, telescopes, hiking, camping, picnic kits and park passes<\/h2>\n

At libraries throughout the Bay Area, patrons can check out California State Parks passes<\/a> along with gear like hiking backpacks and stargazing kits.<\/p>\n

Jean Walker, a reference librarian with Oakland Public Library, said the goal is to help remove barriers that keep people from getting into nature. \u201cWe know how impactful it is on people\u2019s mental health to just get outside,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n

Some libraries loan out hiking gear like trekking poles, baby carriers, camping gear like tents, bear canisters, foldable tables and portable power stations.<\/p>\n

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Yard tools are arranged at the Oakland Public Library Tool Lending Library on May 21, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mill Valley Public Library created \u201cexperience backpacks\u201d designed around local exploration. One kit includes bird guides, trail maps and binoculars for self-guided walks through nearby marshes. Another includes a wildflower guide.<\/p>\n

For Haniza Zainal Abidin, a longtime San Jose resident and homeschooling parent, those programs became essential for her family. As a single-income household, she regularly relied on libraries for books, science programming and museum passes while raising her children.<\/p>\n

One of Abidin\u2019s favorite discoveries was a park pass she borrowed from the library, which allowed her family free entry to county parks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It helped them discover Joseph D. Grant County Park, where the family spotted wild boars crossing nearby trails. \u201cWe could hear them snorting in the bushes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Residents can find California park passes at most public libraries in the Bay Area. Some libraries, such as the San Mateo Public Library, include them in their backpack kits, which include hiking essentials like a water bottle, first aid kit and headlamp.<\/p>\n

For those wanting to take a two-wheeled adventure, San Mateo County Libraries offer a number of bicycles through the system\u2019s Book-A-Bike program.<\/p>\n

Bikes come equipped with a helmet, bike lock, cargo basket, first aid kit, headlight, two tail lights and a charger for the lights. Some libraries also loan out bike racks, like at the Sunnyvale Public Library.<\/p>\n

And for skywatchers and stargazers alike, you can borrow a telescope at Oakland Public Library, Mill Valley Public Library and other libraries in Marin County, as well as Sunnyvale Public Library.<\/p>\n

Cooking: Where to find Instant Pots, food dehydrators, sous vides and other culinary tools<\/h2>\n

Libraries have also expanded their offerings into kitchen equipment.<\/p>\n

The Berkeley Tool Lending Library also offers a wide selection of culinary and kitchen tools, including Instant Pots, air fryers, blenders and portable induction cooktops.<\/p>\n

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An induction stove available for check out at the San Mateo Public Library in San Mateo on April 17, 2026. (T\u00e2m V\u0169\/KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Culinary equipment like sous vides, ice cream makers, dehydrators and cake pans is available in both Berkeley and at the Sunnyvale Public Library.<\/p>\n

In Sunnyvale, residents can also borrow a rice cooker, hot pot, grill, dehydrator, popcorn maker, baking pans, cookie cutters and knife sharpeners.<\/p>\n

Kids: Where to find children\u2019s toys and activities<\/h2>\n

Libraries also provide kid-focused collections, from rotating toy libraries to educational kits and science activities. Walker said children at Oakland libraries often return toys after storytime and immediately check out something new.<\/p>\n

The toys are \u201cthe highlight of a lot of those kids\u2019 weeks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Oakland Public Library has a large toy-lending program aimed at children ages 0 to 6. They can borrow train sets, toy cars, sensory toys and more.<\/p>\n

Libraries in San Mateo, Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara and other cities also offer play spaces for small children. For older kids, activities and resources related to coding, robotics, science and engineering, like STEAM kits, are readily available too.<\/p>\n

How do I find out what kinds of items are available at my local public library?<\/h2>\n

To find out what\u2019s available in the \u201cLibrary of Things\u201d at your local library, staff advise checking their branch\u2019s website or calling to learn more.<\/p>\n

Most libraries have an updated online catalog of items and offer the option to place holds online, while others require you to call to place your hold.<\/p>\n

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Hannah Waldschmidt, Library Assistant, holds trail and plant guides, part of the \u201cFamily Scavenger Hunt\u201d kit, available for checkout at Mill Valley Public Library\u2019s \u201cLibrary of Things\u201d on May 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Calling the library directly would get you the most recent updates on descriptions and availability.<\/p>\n

Some libraries allow nonresidents of that city to borrow certain items, as long as you\u2019re a California resident. Others, like the tool lending libraries, require you to actually be a resident of that library\u2019s city.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n