MCLS Third Thursday Twitter Chat: Library of Things

Welcome to our Twitter chat on the Library of Things! #mclschat

We’ll get started in a moment. Tell us who you are and where you are tweeting from. #mclschat

Hi! Michelle tweeting from frigid but sunny Mulberry, Indiana! #mclschat

Hi everyone! I'm Megan from MCLS #MCLSchat

Paula Newcom from Indiana State Library #mclschat

@PNewcom Hi Paula! #mclschat

Hello! #mclschat

Hi @PNewcom! #mclschat

Portia from Delphi, Indiana! #mclschat

Hi @pkapraun! #mclschat

Hi there, we're at MeL HQ in sunny Lansing! #mclschat

@pkapraun Hi Portia #mclschat

Chrystal tweeting from Lansing, Michigan #mclschat

Q1. Why circulate “things?” #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Help people that can’t afford to buy expensive or rarely used equipment #mclschat

Circulating things is great for people who can't afford the "thing" #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. People don’t have to store rarely used items at home #mclschat

A1. Positions libraries as part of the “sharing economy” for “lumpy goods”  http://whr.tn/1R2Zjws  #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Helps people be more resourceful with "things" #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Libraries have more shelf space as less printed materials are being housed #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Supports life long learning and creativity #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Libraries focus is more on creating than just consuming #mclschat

@PNewcom or try out before they buy. #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Helps people learn new skills #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Reduces waste and supports environmental sustainability #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. Ukulele, robots, steel drum, post driver, astronomy kits, microscopes ... #mclschat

Q2. What sorts of creative things are being circulated in libraries? #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Travel kit with selfie stick  http://bit.ly/2g0xcqA  #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Neckties for job-hunters  http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/05/12/this-philly-library-lets-job-seekers-borrow-ties … #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Popcorn machine  http://bit.ly/2fTcKEH  #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Cake pans, patterns for quilting #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. 3D pens #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Roku with subscriptions  http://www.bedfordlibrary.net/resources/library-of-things/roku-3/ … #mclschat

A2. Mobile hots spots #mclschat

A2. Roomba  http://www.readingpl.org/portfolio/irobot-roomba/ … #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. One library is circulating Nooks #mclschat

This is juliane (I missed the introductions) A2. Circut cartridges #mclschat

Welcome @Julie_Noted! #mclschat

A2. Seeds #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Original art and art prints #mclschat

A2. Nintendo classic #mclschat

Q3. How do you decide what “things” to add to your collection? #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. What a library should collect depends on the community it serves and the library’s mission. #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. Definitely agree - what a community needs #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. board games #mclschat

A3. Some libraries include a suggestion form on their web page #mclschat

A3. Some libraries have a “vote” #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. One library that has a lot of vacationers next to the lakes in NE Indiana has a sewing machine for sewing emergency #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. State park passes! #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. When I was at IU & worked in a dorm library we circulated jumper cables for the students #mclschat

A3. We developed collection development guidelines...safe and intuitive were adjectives on our list #mclschat

#mclschat here's what @cadl offers -  http://www.cadl.org/find-books-and-more/lot-heading/browse/ … (pasted the wrong link!)

@meldotorg @cadl Those are great items #mclschat

@Julie_Noted what library are you with and what are you circulating? #mclschat

@mclsorg Clinton-macomb Public Library. Not circulating anything until 2017.#mclschat

@mclsorg A3. At a former library, we loaned bike locks because bikes kept stolen from the bike rack #mclschat

Q4. What things are getting the most circulation? #mclschat

Q5. Where do you store/shelve your things? #mclschat

@mclsorg Does anyone interfile the "things" with books in the same call number area? #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. I have seen libraries store them on their shelves in their own section & in plastic tubs #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. For art prints and artwork, hanging on the walls around the stacks #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. Another library has their circulating STEAM kits around the corner from their makerspace room #mclschat

@mclsorg Board games out on the shelves in the teen room #mclschat

Q6. How do you fund your acquisition of things? #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. And another library said that their most popular item at the moment was a Smithsonian planetarium projector #mclschat

@mclsorg The non-print budget line #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. Would some libraries get grants or money from their Friends groups? #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. donations of "things" from organizations or businesses #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. I just did a presentation on Makerspace items yesterday an a local person donated a machine that scanned slides #mclschat

Q7. Do you partner with any other organizations to build your collection of things? #mclschat

A7.  http://aldrich.club/adopt-a-library-telescope/ … #mclschat

@mclsorg A7.  http://n.pr/1z2hvCS  fishing poles given by Dep. of Environmental conservation #mclschat

@mclsorg @PNewcom can probably say something about the IN state parks and libraries partnership for State Park passes #mclschat

@Roadlibrarian @mclsorg All of the public libraries in Indiana were given park passes to circulate to their patrons #mclschat

@Roadlibrarian @mclsorg They are looking into 2017 - not sure what the status is #mclschat

@Roadlibrarian @mclsorg State park passes were in conjunction with Indiana's 100th birithday - let people get into the parks free #mclschat

Q8. Do you require a cash deposit or any other special requirements for patrons to borrow “things?” #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. The Sacramento PL has lending agreement form  http://bit.ly/2ggBCHw  #mclschat

A8. The Reading Pennsylvania PL agreement for Library of Things  http://bit.ly/2gHRG5D  #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. The Capital Area District Library of things lending agreement form.  http://bit.ly/2fOvBWo  #mclschat

@cadl has a lending guidelines & agreement document  http://www.cadl.org/files/7614/7430/5506/Guidelines_for_Borrowing_Library_of_Things.pdf … #mclschat

Q9. Are there any special liability issues when you loan things like tools, that someone could get hurt using? #mclschat

@mclsorg A9. The Sacramento PLs lending agreement includes a liability waiver. #mclschat

Q10. How do you promote your library of things? #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. Hillsboro OR uses youtube videos  http://bit.ly/2h2fvsj  #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. Wonder if local businesses would let you put up flyers (or would that cut into their business)? Hardware or sewing #mclschat

@cadl did billboards! #mclschat

A 10: have the local press do a story w/pictures. banner announcement on your website, FB & Twitter posts #mclschat

Q11. What other challenges are there for libraries to loan “things?” #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. Cataloging things -How do you classify them?  http://catalog.wccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.6&pos=9 … #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. When things break or are missing parts #mclschat

@mclsorg Inventory of small parts #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. Cleaning things! #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. Expense of "things" #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. Probably need to take into account some natural attrition for these things #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. Batteries or keeping things charged. Some libraries don’t include the batteries. #mclschat

@PNewcom @mclsorg Right, and budgeting for replacement costs #mclschat

@mclsorg A11. We just got a Lego WeDo kit with many little pieces - just not worth the time to count all of the pieces #mclschat

A11 Do people ask for instructions on using things? Some include links to user’s manuals in the record  http://bit.ly/2gFZ1RV  #mclschat

A 11: search @cadl catalog for library of things & you get the records  http://bit.ly/2hBC9Vu ; Love it! they label them "thing" #mclschat

@mclsorg Might be a good idea to back up copies of user manuals, just in case ... #mclschat

Q12. How do you assess the use of the collection? #mclschat

Q12 pt 2 do traditional circulation stats work with a Library of Things? #mclschat

Q13. What other “things” would you LIKE to circulate? Be creative! #mclschat

@mclsorg A13. Fancy high tech digital camera #mclschat

A13 drones #mclschat

@mclsorg oooh nice - drones! #mclschat

Q 13: how about local talent? connect me w/ someone who can teach me a skill or craft? #mclschat

@meldotorg I like that too - great idea! #mclschat

@mclsorg rarely used travel items, like a snorkel, treking poles, tents, etc. #mclschat

Out of time! Thanks everyone! #mclschat

Great chat - thanks!!! #mclschat

Next month Marketing Your Library w/Trent Smiley Marketing and Communications Director @cadl #mclschat

@mclsorg Thank you! Lots of great info! #mclschat

@mclsorg Bye all! #mclschat

Fabulous as always. see you next month. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year to everyone #mclschat

@Roadlibrarian Hi Michelle -- how do you deal with cleaning / items returned with food residue? Has this been an issue? #mclschat