{"id":64,"date":"2026-07-25T22:39:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T06:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/?p=64"},"modified":"2026-07-25T22:39:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T06:39:14","slug":"reflection-blog-post-wild-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/2026\/07\/25\/reflection-blog-post-wild-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflection Blog Post: Wild Card"},"content":{"rendered":"

Revisiting Module 8: New Models<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, at a family get-together, as is what usually happens, someone asked me how library school is going. My response is typically along the lines of \u201cslowly, but surely.\u201d My cousin then proceeded to tell me about the library of things <\/em>she happened upon at her local public library in Irvine. She did not call it that specifically but was pleasantly surprised and amused to find she could check out so many other items besides books at the library. There was even a ukulele.<\/p>\n

And then, in Module 8, from the Going Beyond Books <\/em>section, I read about the Chicago Tool Library and how it saves its members much in terms of purchasing tools, appliances, and equipment (Free, 2022) and perused the Traverse Area District Library\u2019s Library of Things. For the Innovation Strategy & Roadmap, I dove deep into how libraries can implement culinary literacy into their programming. I am intrigued by these libraries that provide unconventional services, meet their communities where they are at, and find opportunities and tools to help patrons explore and learn something new\u2014and often, for free.<\/p>\n

A Library of Things<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo by Lucy Davis<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

For many libraries, a Library of Things is a vehicle for participatory service whose collections are as result of input from staff members, library committees, or patron request (Bromiel & Towers, 2024).<\/p>\n

We started hearing about the projects people were working on, what tools they needed, and what items they had lying around their homes that they wanted to donate to us for other people to use. While circulation numbers can tell part of a collection\u2019s story, what really informs the success of a Library of Things and the impact it has on a community is how much the people we serve embrace it and make it their own. (Lax, 2020, para. 1)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Not far from me, the Altadena Library maintains a Library of Things. Interestingly, it developed from a partnership with NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who provided the library with a telescope and would be performing its calibration (Hogg, 2020). When the library reopened following the Eaton Fire, the telescope (with JPL\u2019s continued calibration assistance), and the Library of Things were still available (KNX News 97.1 FM, 2025).<\/p>\n

Libraries of Things are gaining in popularity as are other innovative and unorthodox library services. They are one way libraries can support their communities while also inviting participation in developing and maintaining collections and deciding what services customers value. Though libraries are starting to look and feel different, providing access to information and educational opportunities remains the same.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bromiel, L., & Towers, A. (2024, March). Beyond books: Exploring the Library of Things movement. ILA Reporter, 42<\/em>(1), 52-55.<\/p>\n

Free, C. (2022, January 5). Tools are costly and take up space. Tool libraries are popping up so people can share. The Washington Post.<\/em> https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/2022\/01\/05\/tool-library-gift-economy\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hogg, D. (2020, November 19).\u00a0Library of things<\/em>. Pasadena Weekly. https:\/\/www.pasadenaweekly.com\/news\/feature-stories\/library-of-things\/article_22880c2c-2ea6-58bc-a243-ecdc347f090b.html<\/p>\n

KNX News 97.1 FM. (2025, March 4). Altadena Library reopens following closure prompted by Eaton Fire. <\/em>Audacity, Inc.<\/p>\n

Lax, B. What are these things doing in the library? How a library of things can engage and delight a community. Oregon Library Association, 26<\/em>(1), 54-61. https:\/\/doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org\/10.5399\/osu\/1093-7374.26.01.11<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Revisiting Module 8: New Models A few weeks ago, at a family get-together, as is what usually happens, someone asked me how library school is going. My response is typically along the lines of \u201cslowly, but surely.\u201d My cousin then proceeded to tell me about the library of things she happened upon at her local […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":871,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/871"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/70"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bookmarked\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}