Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) continues to evolve and expand their services. If you have been paying attention for the last decade, then you know public libraries have long since moved away from being just about books. I’ve posted before about HSE and the plethora of board games you can check out. Now they’ve gone one step further!
The HEPL branches now have outdoor games, yard games, that you can check out. Currently they are starting this new are with eight different games available. These are:
- Bocce Ball
- Kubb Viking Clash
- Kan Jam
- Jumbo Hi-Tower
- Bottle Bash
- Sorry! Gian Edition
- Ladder Toss
- Yard Dice
To check out the games, you take one of the “DVD” cases that are available to the checkout desk, and they can help you. Each of the items include information on number of players, difficulty level, the time it takes to play, and then all the items for the game. For example, the following is the case for Bottle Bash:
This is the beginning of adding yard games. As with other programs, if this is popular than the library will likely expand on the available items. I did ask if they had one of the more popular outdoor games, Corn Hole, to which they said they did not. I imagine this will be one to be added in the future, although it is a larger sized game to try to store and check out.
The Library of Things
These items are part of what I hope will be a larger expansion at the library in the future. Many libraries have started adding a “Library of Things” section that involves adding items to the library for people to check out that are not the normal book, DVD, or magazine. The Games at HEPL are a prime example of this.
Other libraries have added items that you would typically borrow from others for a day or two. Games are a prime example, but this might also include things like tools. In fact, our library does have tools you can use in the Ignite Studio, so expanding into more Library of Things is already happening.
These new items were mentioned at the July 25 HEPL Board meeting. All of the items were at the library at that time. If you hurry, some might still be there. If not, I assume there will be hold lists just like with books!
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