Kent District Library strives to be an integral part of the communities it serves and responsive to the needs of those living in its service area. The goal of the Library of Things is to give everyone, including those who can’t afford the items themselves, an opportunity to experience these items, in turn bridging the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots.” By lending relatively expensive items — from ukuleles to GoPro cameras — KDL opens up possibilities for patrons to not only learn and further themselves, but to reveal new passions that may have otherwise gone undiscovered.

While the Library of Things continues to grow in size and diversity, the additions to the collection are becoming more and more valuable to the community that KDL serves. Most recently, Kent District Library formed a partnership with GR Bikes, LLC, in an effort to provide patrons with a healthy and enjoyable mode of transportation that they might not be able to afford to purchase on their own. Sixteen of KDL’s eighteen branches were selected to receive four bicycles along with a new, secondary bike rack as to preserve the existing bike rack space.

Use of the collection is growing and the gap between the “haves” and “have nots” is closing. Perhaps the most touching outcome involves the rural communities that KDL serves, which are home to many patrons who are without home internet access. Since introducing the circulating Wi-Fi hotspots to the branches located in these regions, they have quickly become one of the most popular items in the collection. By allowing patrons to check out hotspots for weeks at a time, the library allows people to maximize the benefits of having technology that is so crucial to success in today’s world.