Library of Things�in an academic library

Stefanie Hood – Laptop and Hotspot Coordinator

Sara Trott – Equipment Coordinator

Oregon State University Valley Library

Please download and install the Slido app on all computers you use

Do you have a Library of Things in your library?

ⓘ Start presenting to display the poll results on this slide.

Please download and install the Slido app on all computers you use

What kinds of Things do you have?

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Please download and install the Slido app on all computers you use

What is the most unusual Thing you have in your collection?

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Why have a Library of Things?

Overview:

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• Over 80 types of items ranging from whiteboard markers and calculators to laptops and telescopes
• The branch libraries at Cascades and Guin have their own Library of Things (separate from The Valley Library)

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• Intended to help patrons with both library and education needs as well as the more holistic needs of the person. 
• Mental needs
• Try new things
• Study breaks
• Support lifelong learning

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Why have a Library of Things?

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Strategic Significance:

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• Removes barriers
• Provides resources for underserved communities
• Reduce the financial burden of college
• Work with campus partners to improve collection and strengthen connections
• Build collections that represent diverse experiences
• Promotes sustainability and innovation

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What’s in the Valley Library’s Library of Things?

a deeper dive

What’s in the Valley Library’s Library of Things?

Computers & Accessories

• Laptops
• Hotspots
• Mice
• Keyboards
• DVD/CD Drive
• Floppy Drive
• Microphone
• Flash Drives
• USB Hubs
• Laptop Chargers
• Phone Chargers
• Monitor Adapters
• Power Banks and Strips

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a deeper dive

Adaptive Technology

• Ergonomic Keyboard & Mice
• Low Vision Keyboard
• Left-handed Mouse
• Table Magnifying Lamp
• Low Vision Calculator

Study Aids

• Noise Cancelling Headphones
• Calculators and Chargers
• Dry Erase Markers
• Whiteboards
• Measuring Supplies Kits
• Craft Supplies Kits

What’s in the Valley Library’s Library of Things?

a deeper dive

Recreation and Study Breaks

• Board Games
• Legos
• Outdoor Kits
• Birding Kit
• Solar Chargers
• Disc Golf Kit
• Tabletop Telescope
• Telescope with Tripod
• Park Passes
• Oregon State Park Day Use Parking Permit
• Northwest Forest Pass
• Oregon Sno-Park Permit
• Portland Japanese Garden Pass

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Maker Kits

Wellness Kits

• Arduino
• Raspberry Pi
• Makey Makey
• Go Pro Cameras
• Digital Camera
• 360 Camera
• Wacom Drawing Tablets
• Bookbinding Kit
• Watercolor Kit
• Collage Kit
• Loom Kit
• Zine Kit
• Zine Reader’s Kit

• Therapy Light Lamps
• White Noise Machine
• Sensory Kit
• Mini Mind Spa Kit

What affects our collection?

Partnerships – help make this collection better

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• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – events, Wellness Kits, book displays
• OSU Clubs – telescopes, Portland Japanese Garden Pass, Crafternoons, book displays
• University IT – refresh laptops
• Basic Needs Center – Long-term Textbooks and laptop loans
• Dept of Transportation – increase the amount of bike locks and extend the loan period
• Craft Center – help develop craft kits, assessment forms
• Funding?

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What affects our collection?

Campus lab closures

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• UIT facing the need to prioritize cybersecurity
• The implication?

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Seeing the user as a whole person

What affects our collection?

Post Pandemic/Campus needs

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• Higher number of onsite users/folks utilizing �in-library resources vs. two years ago
• Checkouts increasing
• 2021-2022 vs 2023-2024

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Meeting the challenges

Policies!

Examples of policy changes:

• Laptops: from five collections to three
• Calculators: from 6 hours to 1 day
• Power banks: will be changed from 6 hours to one week to match the other tech loans, like mice and keyboards
• Community patrons can check out all of the Library of Things items except laptops and hotspots which require OSU credentials to access.

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Meeting the challenges

Use changes:

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• A shift from borrowing laptops to use onsite to taking them home to utilize for projects (vs. a few hours of use)
• Term-long laptops are limited on campus, so folks want to utilize the automatic renewal system (up to 3 renewals)
• More equipment now loans out for one week including laptops and other loanable equipment.
• Repurpose our collections

How we’ve responded

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Meeting the challenges

Our new Library of Things menu

• See our handout!
• More accessible
• Improving how we promote our collection
• Tabling events and outreach

Working together

New Library of Things (LoT) Team

Steve Weber

Coordinator of 

Circulation Services

steve.weber@oregonstate.edu

Sara Trott

Equipment Coordinator

sara.trott@oregonstate.edu

Stefanie Hood

Laptop + Hotspot Coordinator

stefanie.hood@oregonstate.edu

Matthew Schuck

Board Games Coordinator

matthew.schuck@oregonstate.edu

Looking Ahead

• Always Adapting!
• Continuing to find sustainable, consistent funding
• Assessment for Kits – simple assessment with each kit to help understand the impact these kits are having – they have been positive and helps to know we are filling a need

Questions?�Do you feel inspired?