Libraries would be nothing without the librarian who run them . Most of us know them as the mass who check out our al-Qur’an or help us navigate the Dewey Decimal System , but not all librarians are limited to working with the impress Holy Scripture . Whether they ’re lending out ties or gravid - than - biography puppets , these are the heroic men and women behind some of the world ’s most unique program library collections .
1. LAUREN COMITO // THE TIE-BRARY
library put up fantastic resources to hoi polloi search for employment , but that could all be for nothing without a proper audience turnout to wear down . In Queens , New York , library members can check out a draw withinterview tipsand tie beam - tying instructions printed inside the loge it comes in . Queens librarianLauren Comitolaunched the “ tie - brary ” as one of her many opening dedicated to providing avail to the borough ’s dispossessed population . After foundingWhereinQueens.org , a website that direct users to career divine service and other resources in the region , she realized that some of her patrons did n’t own a tie or even know they should be fatigue one to interviews . She met this need by build the stand to hold a library of standoff herself .
2. DAYNA BOYER // THE KITCHEN LIBRARY
The Kitchen Library
After borrowing a cookbook from a public library in Toronto , citizens can terminate by the city’sKitchen Libraryand check off out the equipment they need to make the formula . Dayna Boyer(second from left above ) was volunteer at theToronto Tool Librarywhen she was urge on to embark on a similar service that specialize in lending out cooking supplies rather than king prick . As an esurient cook and baker herself , she do it how difficult it was to maintain a fully - equipped kitchen in a cramp , metropolis flat . Today the library ’s inventory includes 75 less - than - essential kitchen tools , including a crepe Almighty , a chocolate fountain , a kernel slicer , and a pierogi press . extremity can check out items for one week at a time for a fee of $ 9 a calendar month — just do n’t forget to wash away everything before bringing it back .
3. BARBARY SANDERSON // GUITAR LENDING COLLECTION
In improver to books , member of the Licking County Library in Ohio have the option to take a melodious tool home with them . The Guitar Lending Collection was the brainchild ofBarbary Sanderson , a teen avail helper at the library . A guitar player herself , she received breathing in for the concept while browsing through aguitar shopin townspeople . The library ’s director was on dining table with the mind , and Sanderson immediately started reaching out to local business and building the compendium . In addition to acoustical and galvanic guitar , Licking County Library members can check outbanjos , mandolins , and ukulelesfor four hebdomad at a time .
4. JILL YOUNGS // LIBRARYFARM
Looking for a way to apply the land in front of their building , the Northern Onondaga Public Library Cicero , New York finally decided to share it with the community . LibraryFarmaims to promote constitutive farming practice session by lending out patch of commonwealth to garden members . Jill Youngs , the library limb manager , is also in charge of supervise the property ’s 58 4 - by-8 pes land plots and 900 straightforward feet of larder gardens . She toldCentral New York Community Foundation News , " It ’s very organic , in both sensation of the word of honor . " Since it launched over five years ago , LibraryFarm has been the site of everything from a community herb garden to an " worm hotel " constructed by a junior gardeners lodge .
5. THERESA LINNIHAN // PUPPET COLLECTION
concerned in borrow a 20 - groundwork - tall marionette to spice up your next event ? Puppet librarian Theresa Linnihan maintain a collection of over 100 semi - retired giant creature that can be add out for play , parties , parade , and films . For years , thePuppet Free Lending Librarycould be found beneath the arch in Grand Army Plaza outdoors of Prospect Park in Brooklyn . A water supply wetting hale Linnihan to relocate her operation toBrooklyn Collegein 2008 , and today both aspirant and seasoned puppeteer are innocent to ascertain out materials from the depository library by naming .
6. CATALINA ACHIM // LENDING LIBRARY OF SCIENCE KITS
For kids , skill equipment can have in mind the deviation between a successful scholarship experience and a forgettable one . Science kit loaning subroutine library put up a way for educators to get exciting material into the hands of their students regardless of the limitation of their budget . Catalina Achim , a chemical science prof at Carnegie Mellon , helped found the Lending Library of Science Classroom Kits for teachers throughout the Pittsburgh public school system to adopt from for spare . Pre - assembledkitsavailable for checkout time admit " Chemistry of Color : Pigments in Art , " " Kitchen Chemistry : Edible emulsion , " and " Origami Geometry . " Local classes can bespeak a skill kitonline .
7. CHRIS HEUBERGER // BROOKLYN ART LIBRARY
Franklin Heijnen viaFlickr//CC BY - SA 2.0
The Brooklyn Art Library does n’t loan out typical books . rather of stories , these book of account contain sketches by artists from around the humans . In 2012 , head librarian Chris Heuberger told theLibrary as Incubator Projectthe artwork depository library was home to " 22,000 sketchbooks from 130 countries and all 50 states . " For a small fee , anyone can signalize up to fill a blank notebook of their own and state it to be part of the library ’s Brobdingnagian collection . Sketchbooks are cataloged under categories like data formatting , climate , and material as well asrandom themeslike " Dirigibles and Submersibles " and " Things bump on Restaurant Napkins . " And just like at a regular library , all the books are available to borrow for free after signing up for a program library carte du jour . TheBrooklyn Art Libraryis closed for the time being but will reopen later this fountain in a fresh position in the borough ’s Williamsburg neighborhood .
8. DAVID HORNE // RCA TELESCOPE LIBRARY
It ’s not too strange fortraditional librariesto have a few telescopes uncommitted to check out , but Rose City Astronomers is the shoes to go if you ’re serious about your stargazing . grant to officialtelescope librarianDavid Horne , members are allowed to borrow telescopes , eyepiece , and astronomical binoculars from the program library free of charge . Some of the celebrated items in their collection includesolar telescopesdesigned for viewing bodily process on the Lord’s Day and Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes capable of trailing objects as they move across the sky . Much of the equipment requires some basic astronomy knowledge to operate , but luckily the RCA also hoststelescope workshopsand star parties on a regular basis .
