Library of Things and The Lab brings MORE to your Library Experience
The Lab
Plymouth District Library Summer Reading Program has been beautifully busy– books and activities galore for everyone. But have you had a chance to visit our lab? Well, this summer you should. The Lab is a creative space– if you can imagine it, you can make it at the library. The tools available in The Lab allow community members to design and prototype their own projects in a supportive environment. What types of tools can you expect? Cricut Cutters, Glowforge machines, 3-D printers, and even sewing and embroidery equipment.
For more details on these tools, material availability, or the cost of printing from our 3-D printers, visit our Computer and Technology page and click on “Learn More.”
Other Lab Links
List of workshops and events in The Lab
Official booklist from The Lab to help you in your creative endeavor
Summer Reading Bonus: If you are participating in our Summer Reading Program, visiting our Lab is a bonus activity that gives you an extra chance at winning prizes during our monthly raffles.
Library of Things
PDL has a vast collection of books in print, audio, and ebook formats that you can access, but we also have other items available for you to check out that will expand your experience, knowledge, and fun this summer and beyond: our Library of Things.
The Library of Things is an initiative in libraries where items, beyond books, are lent to patrons. The term “Library of Things” became popular around 2014 in London, England, by a group called the Share Shed, who were inspired by the Toronto Public Library Tool Library, which offered tools for community members to use. This is not a new concept. There was a library of tools in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, in the 1940s that taught people how to use the tools and lent them out as well. Good ideas keep coming back around, and now many public libraries, like ours, have a Library of Things to support their local communities. PDL’s collection includes Tech Kits with telescopes and GoPro cameras, Laptop Kits where you can check out a Chromebook and hotspot for internet access, an outdoor kit with bird-watching tools, and board games for game night.
So, while you check out your favorite mystery or biography, take a look at some of the other brilliant things we have to offer. Click for more info on our Library of Things page.