The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Ritter Make, Take and Borrow kits prove popular
If in quick need for some party, hobby or office supplies, Ritter Public Library, 5680 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion, has its visitors covered.
For the past year, Ritter Library has expanded its items for loan collection in an effort to expand its services and see which items are popular.
“Because we’re so close to the lake (Erie), we’ve always offered kid-sized personal flotation devices and fishing poles for families who are visiting or who have guests from out of town,” said Patty Kishman, communications manager at Ritter. “Last year, we decided to expand that collection to see what else our customers might like.”
Now, the library has dozens of items available for its visitors to check out for a week at a time.
Late fees after a week are applied a dollar a day.
For party kits, a lobster/ clam pot and utensils, along with a variety of cake and Bundt pans, including teddy bear, Mickey Mouse and Elmo-shaped pans, cake decorating supplies, cookie cutters, folding tables and benches are on loan. For youngsters, beach toys, kites and stop-motion animation toys also are available.
Technological items in the collection include a GoPro kit, a digital film and slide scanner and microphone recorder, all of which need either regular or micro SD cards.
“The slide scanner was in use so often that we purchased a second one,” Kishman said. “The Go-Pro camera is out all the time.”
“Learning kits” also are available for loan, including a microscopic slide set, bug-collecting kit and knitting and crocheting beginners kits.
A birding kit includes three birding guides, a backpack and a set of adult and children’s binoculars.
Some of the library’s items are available for in-library use only, such as a laminator, rotary paper trimmer, long-reach stapler and button maker, and may require purchase of materials.
Kishman said the program has been successful over the past year.
“Our customers seem to love it,” she said.