EXPANDING HORIZONS
Regina Public Library’s inventory and services have diversified over the years
Julie Mckenna, deputy library director for the Regina Public Library, explains the art rental system at the library’s Central Branch. Cardholders have access to entertainment, musical instruments, 3D printing and online streaming services.
While libraries started out as simply a place to borrow books, the Regina Public Library (RPL) has changed and grown with the community it serves, now offering dozens of services — many little-known — to its cardholders.
The Leader-post asked RPL staff about some of its less obvious gems. Here’s what we unearthed:
ENTERTAINMENT
With just a library card, people have access to online streaming services Hoopla and Kanopy on any device, giving free access to movies, documentaries, audiobooks and even classes through The Great Courses. Free audiobooks and e-books also can be borrowed on your smartphone or tablet through the Overdrive or Libby apps, depending on what type of device you are using. For more information on those services, visit RPL’S website and click on Digital Services.
The Central branch also features two sets of virtual reality goggles, one with curated programming through the Dunlop Art Gallery and one with commercial programming, for anyone to try out.
ART RENTALS
The Dunlop Art Gallery’s art rental service lets people rent an original piece of art by a Canadian artist to hang in their home or office. Anyone who has a library card and is 18 years old or up can rent a work for $18 for a 42-day period. A maximum of five pieces can be borrowed at once.
You can choose from more than 300 works, including paintings, drawings and prints. All of the artwork is framed and ready to hang. Art can be rented only from the Central branch. You can view all of the pieces available on the Dunlop Art Gallery’s website.
3D PRINTING AND MOBILE PRINTING
To have your project 3D printed at RPL, create a 3D printing account and upload your project file. The RPL team will review the file and send you a quote for how much your job will cost (priced at 14 cents per gram of filament needed). If you accept the charge, your job begins and you’ll be notified by email when it is complete.
You also can print documents at the RPL from your smartphone or tablet, by downloading the Printeron app and searching for the Regina Public Library. Once you’ve picked a printer, select the documents you want printed. After the document has been sent, go the library within 24 hours and release the job to the printer.
This service is available at the Central branch and the George Bothwell branch in the Southland Mall. Black-and-white printouts are 15 cents per page and colour printouts are 40 cents per page.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LENDING
The Sun Life Financial Instrument Lending program lets anyone with a library card borrow a musical instrument for three weeks at a time just like they would a book. Instruments available include guitars, banjos, ukuleles, violins and portable keyboards. Most of the instruments are available at the Central branch, but a few are also located at the Sherwood Village branch.
EASY ACCESS TO POPULAR BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS
RPL staff keep a designated Popular Picks shelf full of copies of the hottest titles. These copies cannot be placed on hold, so if you find that new book you want to read already has three people waiting for it, try swinging by your local branch to see if the title is available in the Popular Picks section. Popular titles can be checked out for three weeks at a time, just like regular library materials.
Maybe it’s the latest copy of your favourite newspaper or magazine you’re looking for. RPL gives you free access to hundreds of magazines and newspapers online through Pressreader, where you can even have the site read the newspaper aloud to you or translate an article into another language. Visit the library’s website and click on Digital Services.