Powerwash and play with the library
Experience Kits offer cake pans, metal detectors and more for KHCPL patrons
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The weekend is here, and so are spring projects. The house siding needs a good cleaning, and so does the patio. After all, in just a few weeks, the family will be over for Memorial Day. Boy, it would be great to have a cornhole game or a giant Jenga set for that get together.
The Kokomo Howard County Public Library can help make it all happen.
That’s right. The library is a lot more than just books. It has Experience Kits that can meet every need listed above and then some. And all it takes is a library card. According to Caele Pemberton, KHCPL’s head of marketing and community engagement, there is a plethora of items available for patrons to check out that someone might not think to look for at a library.
“Oh my gosh, we have so many things!” exclaimed Pemberton. “They range from practical things that you can use around the house to games. We have a whole collection of yard games, like giant Jenga, giant yard Yahtzee, cornhole. We have pressure washers and metal detectors and a car diagnostic tool. If you're getting some warning light on your dashboard and you want to know what that is, you can find out.”
Yes, at the library. The Experience Kits are a significant and quickly growing segment of KHCPL’s offerings.
“Many of them are really popular,” said Pemberton. “We had to buy more pressure washers because they're constantly being checked out. And it’s free. We have a hand truck dolly. Personally, (husband) Ben and I just moved. So, we checked out the hand truck dolly to move our washer and dryer. That was really nice, It came in handy.”
The array of items available to be checked out is staggering. Character cake pans for the perfect birthday celebration. A karaoke machine for that Saturday night sleepover. A kindergarten readiness kit to prep the little one over the summer in anticipation of next school year.
Museum passes. An axe throwing kit. A knife sharpener. A Toniebox that tells stories and sings songs for the kids. Even an umbrella.
“A lot of libraries around the country are doing this ‘library of things,’” said Pemberton. “We want people to enjoy the experience. It's something different than what you might think a library would have. We have these great things that you can check out and use. They're practical. They're fun.
“And we're always open to suggestions for things to add. People will say, ‘Hey, do you guys have this experience kit?’ and our collections team will take a look and see if it is that something we can do.”
So, how does one check out an Experience Kit? Library cardholders can visit any KHCPL branch and inquire about the available kits. If the desired item is available, the patron can check it out right then. If the kit is at another branch, it can be transferred to the branch of choice, or it can be held for the patron to make the trip to the branch that has it.
If the Experience Kit is currently checked out, the patron can put a hold on it for when it is returned. The kits can also be reserved online at www.khcpl.org under the “Check It Out” tab. The kits typically can be checked out for as long as two weeks.
There are no late fees for not returning the kit by the due date, but if the item goes missing long enough, a replacement fee will be assessed. Otherwise, Experience Kits – like everything the library offers – are free to use and enjoy.
All it takes is a library card. To get a card or start reserving or checking out Experience Kits, visit any KHCPL location. For further information about all the Experience Kits offered, visit www.khcpl.org and click on the Check It Out” tab.