Brunswick is a small town of about 22,000, and yet its library has received national media attention for its Library of Things. A library card lets you borrow anything from a blueberry rake to a Wi-Fi hot spot to a popover pan. Last week, I visited Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick in search of a summer adventure and the craziest item I could check out.

Founded by Adult Services Librarian Hazel Onsrud in 2018, the variety of items in circulation reflects the evolving and community-oriented nature of the Library of Things. Library patrons have free access to more than 1,500 items, ranging from obscure kitchen tools to board games to educational materials.

On a recent visit, an assortment of items waited on hold: a bubble machine, a Wi-Fi hot spot, yard games and a Popsicle maker. The items are an indication of how library patrons plan to enjoy the summer heat.

“The popularity (of items) changes over the season,” Onsrud said. “Right now, for example, we’re in summer, so our yard games are super popular. We have kids croquet and adult croquet. We have horseshoes. We have cornhole.”

The Library of Things is more than just items on shelves. It functions as a dynamic community of borrowing, where sustainability converges with community needs. I didn’t expect to help a librarian carry a cornhole set outside for a community member planning their friend’s baby shower or to see so many families browsing the aisles. 

“The goal is to create this ecosystem of different lending options so that here in our community, you can go rent some tools, you can borrow other tools, you can do whatever fits your local community and your local community’s needs,” Onsrud said.

At Curtis Memorial, the librarians are tuned into evolving community needs, and items are sourced based on community input.

“The community makes it possible,” Onsrud said. “All of these items were donated or purchased for a specific program that we ran with community partners to meet a local community need.”

At the heart of this sharing ecosystem is the library staff. Jennifer Dolham, who works in lending services, offered recommendations to an elementary schooler on summer vacation searching for a new instrument to check out. For Dolham, the best part of her job is talking to people.

“I like to see where they’re going to use the Library of Things items, as well as what the story is behind how it turned out. It’s very exciting,” she said. 

Dolham recalled when a 3-year-old borrowed a karaoke set and a bubble machine for her Taylor Swift-themed party. 

“When she came back in, the little one was so excited. I asked her how her birthday party went, and she said, ‘It was the best birthday ever,’” Dolham said. “Then she told me all about the Taylor Swift songs that they sang, and it was just fabulous.”

Dolham partially credits the success of the Library of Things to its economic practicality and role in the community.

“ In the economy that is today, it’s just hard to kind of pony up the money for some of the bigger items, especially if you’re only gonna use it once or twice,” Dolham said. “But the other thing is that it’s nice to have something that’s community based. It’s kind of like having a tool shed that is available for everyone, and you can just check out an item.”

The network of lending extends beyond Brunswick and even beyond Maine. The Library of Things Mutual Aid group is a “traditional public, academic or school libraries that lend things.” Librarians across Maine and around the world assemble to share tips and experiences. 

“It’s a huge team effort, and I think Maine libraries are amazing,” Onsrud said. “Beyond Maine, we’re all sharing and learning from each other in every possible way. That’s what libraries are all about.”

During my visit, I took my time surveying the full array of options. I was initially attracted to the tagine, but ultimately decided to save this cooking adventure for another day. Finally, I settled on a juggling kit and a vintage cherry pitter. Although I had no piemaking or jamming plans, I ended up with the cherry pitter on recommendation from Onsrud.

I certainly took advantage of my access to the community’s tool shed. When I returned my items after making a mess with cherry juice and crushing my dreams of joining the circus, I searched the shelves for a loaf pan to make banana bread. To my surprise, I found that it was already checked out – somehow, that felt like the point.