With the summer months rolling in, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, is offering more than just books for patrons to enjoy. The C.H. Booth Library of Things is a unique set of offerings people can check out just like a typical book.

The Library of Things gives patrons an opportunity to “try before you buy,” according to Library Director Jennifer Nash.

“The C.H. Booth Library of Things is designed to meet the diverse needs and interests of our community by providing access to practical tools, creative instruments, and entertainment options that might otherwise be expensive or hard to find,” Nash said.

This collection is not just at C.H. Booth Library; many libraries across the country have implemented a similar “library of things.” Newtown’s collection launched about 11 years ago, “with cake pans and Kill-A-Watt energy meters,” Nash told The Newtown Bee in May 2024.

Offering items to check out such as lawn sports and games, hobby materials, and DIY equipment is a commonality among many local libraries, but Nash thinks that Newtown’s collection is “pretty superior.”

Items for patrons to check out include, but are not limited to, sewing machines, a metal detector, a digital projector, Kan Jam, a pickleball paddle set, hiking poles, fishing poles, and so much more.

Booth Library Head of Borrower Services Cathy Filiato said, “If people want to try something, but don’t want to invest in purchasing equipment …we do have a lot of opportunities.”

C.H. Booth Library continues to add to the collection, too, including a few tools people can use around the home. A telescope, hand truck, binoculars (with a Connecticut bird guide), and a vehicle battery charger are all recent additions patrons can check out.

Memory Kits are another loan option for Booth Library patrons. The Memory Kits are part of the Library of Things located by the Borrower Services desk.

“Our Memory Kits encourage positive experiences between people experiencing memory loss and those who care for them,” Nash said. “The kits contain items and activities that stimulate conversation, spark memories, and provide positive interactions.”

Kits include jigsaw puzzles, conversation cards, books from the past, word searches, and more. The kits were born from the Memory Café events the library hosted in the past.

“The Memory Kits came out [of Memory Café],” Nash said. “People really [enjoyed] the activities and [wanted] to take them home, she added. Booth Library Head of Adult Services Shari Merrill coordinated and hosted the Memory Café programs. The idea to package items enjoyed during the 60-minute events into kits that can be taken home with them was also Merrill’s idea, according to Nash.

Merrill said the kits are “designed to create meaningful moments” for individuals and families faced with memory loss. She added that the kits are “created with the goal of reducing isolation and promoting dignity” for those individuals.

“These kits provide tools to inspire conversation, trigger memories, and strengthen personal connections,” something that can be quite difficult to do with the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia, Merrill added.

Nash said her family has found some of their favorite board games through the Library of Things. The library director has taken games home to play with her family before committing to the price of the game herself.

“The Library of Things reflects our commitment to supporting lifelong learning, creativity, and community resource sharing,” Nash said. “We want to empower our patrons with access to tools and technology they might not otherwise be able to afford or store at home.

“Come explore beyond the books,” she encourages. “Your next project, adventure, or discovery could be just a library card away.”

Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.