Off the charts
Sun Life musical instrument lending program hitting a high note after just one week
It’s been just over a week since the Sun Life Financial musical instrument lending library program was launched, but already it’s a big hit.
“Oh my gosh, it’s been wonderful,” Leigha Chaisson-locke, regional librarian for St. John’s, told The Telegram Wednesday during an interview at the A.C. Hunter Public Library at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre. “We’ve had such a great turnover of all of our instruments.”
The program — which began July 31 and is the 10th in Canada — allows area residents the opportunity to borrow a variety of musical instruments from the local public library, free of charge. Just like taking out a book, anyone with a valid library card can borrow a musical instrument for their own personal enjoyment.
Some of the available instruments include guitars, a banjo, a violin, ukulele, mandolin and bongos. There will soon be a bodhran, which local well-known musician Alan Doyle used in Great Big Sea shows, as well as a mini Taylor acoustic guitar, both of which he signed. Doyle was at the library to help launch the program.
Chaisson-locke said both the signed instruments are just now being catalogued and will be added to the collection soon.
There are some empty shelves in the music room, where the instruments are stored at the library, as almost half of them are already on four-week loans.
Chaisson-locke said to date, 70 of the 150 instruments have been signed out for people to try.
She said the most popular instruments so far have been the accordions and banjos. Since there were only two of each, they were quick to go, with more people on the waiting list.
The electric guitars are all gone, the xylophone is out and there’s one violin left and two keyboards. There are some acoustic guitars left, as well as classical acoustic guitars and acoustic bass guitars. They come in various sizes and can come in right- or left-handed versions, with nylon or steel strings.
Chaisson-locke said while only adults and teens can take out the instruments, many parents are signing them out for their children.
“But there are a lot of adults wanting them, too,” she said. “All ages are super excited about this.”
The success was no surprise, she said, seeing the program has been going so well in other cities across the country.
“We were anticipating it would be busy right from the get-go because it’s new and exciting and people are really investing in the program,” she said. “And this being such a musical city, it only makes sense (it would be popular here).”
Those borrowing instruments sign an agreement form, but Chaisson-locke said they don’t worry because they know they will take care of the instruments.
“For the most part, people are so thrilled at the opportunity, that we find we’re not as concerned about how things are going to come back because people are willing to take such good care of them,” she said.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries’ musical instrument donation drive runs until Aug. 24. Residents of the St. John’s region can drop off their donations of new or gently used instruments at the A.C. Hunter Public Library or at Long and Mcquade on Kenmount Road.