Library of Things: Tools, Instruments and Gear You Can Borrow Free
A Library of Things is a lending collection of objects instead of books: drills and pressure washers, sewing machines, ukuleles, GoPro cameras, cookware and games. You borrow them with your library card, the same way you borrow a book. At the seven US library systems we checked, most lend these items only to adults, keep loans to one to three weeks, cap how many you can hold, and want items returned in person to the branch where you picked them up.
Find a library that lends what you need
Choose a category to see which of the seven library systems we checked lend it, with their age rule, loan period, limits and return rules.
When is it due back?
What a Library of Things lends
Every collection is different, and most are built around what local people ask for. Here is what the libraries we checked list on their own pages.
- Tools: DC Public Library keeps tools for do-it-yourself automotive, garden and home projects. LA County Library lends drill drivers, sanders and a pressure washer. Indianapolis lists a socket and ratchet set and a home and auto tool kit, and Sacramento lends home care and yard tools.
- Sewing and crafts: LA County Library and Indianapolis lend sewing machines, and LA County adds Cricut machines. Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Virginia lends arts and crafts kits for knitting, origami and calligraphy.
- Musical instruments: Los Angeles Public Library lends ukulele kits with a case, chord book and tuner at 18 branches. Sacramento, LA County Library, Indianapolis and Houston also list instruments.
- Cameras and technology: Sacramento lends GoPro cameras and photography equipment. Houston has a technology and tools category, plus Tonie Boxes and Yoto players.
- Kitchen: Houston lends cookware and bakeware, and LA County Library's borrower agreement covers kitchen tools and cookware.
- Outdoor and games: Indianapolis lends a pickleball set and a fishing pole set. Los Angeles Public Library, working with the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, lends birdwatching backpacks with binoculars. Houston lends game boxes, and Jefferson-Madison lends games and recreation kits.
- Health and fitness: Indianapolis has an assistive devices category, and Jefferson-Madison lends health kits for yoga, hand therapy, cardio, pilates and light therapy.
- Seeds: Houston and Jefferson-Madison count their seed libraries as part of the collection. Seeds work differently from other things, since you keep them. See our guide to seed libraries.
Indianapolis explains the idea well: the collection lets people borrow items they might not buy because the items are expensive or used only once in a while.
Borrowing rules at seven library systems
Rules for things are stricter than rules for books. Expect an age minimum, a short loan and a cap on how many items you can hold.
| Library | Who can borrow | Loan period | Renewals | Item limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Public Library (CA) | Cardholders over 18 who owe less than $5 | 2 weeks | None | 3 reservations, 2 checked out |
| DC Public Library Tool Library | Cardholders 18+ with government ID and a signed release form | 7 days | Up to 2, if no hold | 8 tools, no more than 3 power tools |
| LA County Library Tool Lending Library (CA) | Cardholders over 18 who sign a liability waiver | Tools 7 days, instruments 21 days | None | 6 tools, no more than 2 from the power tool, sewing machine and Cricut group |
| Indianapolis Public Library (IN) | 18+ in good standing with a valid email; photo ID for Tier 2 items | 21 days | None | 2 items |
| Houston Public Library (TX) | MYLink cardholders | 3 weeks | Not stated | 5 per category |
| Los Angeles Public Library (CA) | Cardholders | Ukulele 3 weeks, birdwatching kit 6 weeks | None for birdwatching kits | 1 ukulele kit per card, 1 birdwatching kit per person |
| Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (VA) | Cardholders | 3 weeks | Not stated | Not stated |
The adults-only rule is the one that trips people up. Sacramento and LA County Library say over 18, and DC and Indianapolis say 18 or older, so a teenager who wants to try a sewing machine or a drill will need a parent to borrow it.
How borrowing works, step by step
- Find the item in the catalog. Houston keeps its Library of Things in the online catalog only. Indianapolis uses a separate reservation portal.
- Reserve it, if your library allows that. Indianapolis asks you to reserve at least 7 days ahead and up to 6 months ahead, and gives you 7 days to pick an item up. LA County Library takes no holds on tools, but if a tool is on the shelf you can call and have it set aside for the same day. Sacramento lets you hold up to three reservations.
- Sign the paperwork once. DC Public Library requires a release form, which stays active for one year, plus a government-issued ID. LA County Library requires a signed liability waiver, and Houston links a waiver from its Library of Things page.
- Pick up at the right branch. Things usually live at a few locations. LA County Library's tools are at Compton, Lancaster, Malibu, Norwalk, Rosemead and San Fernando, and Indianapolis runs its collection from six branches. Houston says hold lockers and kiosks cannot be used.
- Return it in person. Do not use the book drop. LA County Library wants tools back at the library you borrowed from, Sacramento wants items back at the pickup location, and Los Angeles Public Library wants ukuleles returned in person at the circulation desk.
LA County Library also asks you to clean tools before you return them and to handwash kitchen tools and cookware with soap and a non-abrasive sponge before and after use. The library includes any instruction manuals, but staff cannot help with using a tool beyond the manufacturer's instructions.
Late fees, damage and lost items
Things come with stricter money rules than books, because a missing cord or a broken sander costs real money to replace.
- DC Public Library: a tool returned late or damaged costs $15 if it is non-powered and $20 if it is a power tool. You also pay to replace lost or damaged tools, and repeated late returns can cost you your Tool Library privileges.
- Indianapolis: items 4 or more weeks overdue are marked lost and charged. Replacement parts have set prices: $10 for a large container or bag, $3 for a small one and $20 for a cord.
- LA County Library: borrowers agree to pay for the loss of or damage to any tool or instrument on loan to them.
- Houston: if an item comes back unusable, for example with too many missing or broken pieces, a fee may be charged to your account after check-in.
Unpaid fees can also block you from borrowing. Sacramento lends things only to cardholders who owe less than $5, and Indianapolis requires good standing. If you want to check what you owe on books, our late fee and lost book calculator covers that side.
Before you borrow: a short checklist
- Count the parts at pickup. Kits come in a container or bag, and missing pieces are what trigger fees. Check the contents list with staff before you leave.
- Plan the project around the loan. A 7-day tool loan with no renewals, as at LA County Library, means buying your supplies before you check out the tool.
- Bring the right ID. DC Public Library wants a government-issued ID for every tool checkout, and Indianapolis wants photo ID for Tier 2 items.
- Ask about other lending programs. LA County Library, for example, also lists California State Parks passes, museum passes and board games under More to Borrow. See our guides to library state park passes, Wi-Fi hotspot lending and library makerspaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Library of Things?
It is a collection of objects instead of books that you borrow with a library card: tools, sewing machines, musical instruments, cookware, cameras, games and more. The libraries we checked lend them for 1 to 3 weeks, and birdwatching kits at Los Angeles Public Library for 6 weeks.
Do I have to be 18 to borrow from a Library of Things?
At many libraries, yes. Sacramento Public Library and LA County Library's Tool Lending Library lend to cardholders over 18, and DC Public Library's Tool Library and Indianapolis Public Library lend to cardholders 18 or older.
How long can I keep a borrowed tool?
Usually 1 to 3 weeks. DC Public Library and LA County Library lend tools for 7 days, Sacramento for 2 weeks, and Indianapolis for 21 days. DC allows up to two renewals if no one is waiting; Sacramento, LA County Library and Indianapolis allow none.
Can I return Library of Things items in the book drop?
No. LA County Library and Indianapolis Public Library say not to use the book drop. Return items in person during open hours, usually to the branch where you picked them up.
What happens if something breaks while I have it?
You may have to pay. DC Public Library charges $15 or $20 for late or damaged tools plus the cost of replacement, LA County Library borrowers agree to pay for loss or damage, and Houston may charge a fee when an item comes back unusable.
Is the Library of Things free?
None of the seven libraries we checked lists a charge for borrowing. Fees apply for late, damaged or lost items, and some libraries require you to owe little or nothing before you borrow; Sacramento's limit is less than $5.
Sources
Every rule, fee and figure on this page comes from the official page listed here. We read each one on September 25, 2026. Collections change often, so check your library catalog for what is on the shelf now.
- Sacramento Public Library: Library of Things: https://www.saclibrary.org/browse-borrow/special-collections/library-things
- DC Public Library: Tool Library in the Labs Policy: https://www.dclibrary.org/library-policies/tool-library-labs-policy
- DC Public Library: Tool Library: https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/tool-library
- LA County Library: Tool Lending Library Borrower Agreement: https://lacountylibrary.org/tool-lending-borrower-agreement/
- Indianapolis Public Library: Library of Things: https://www.indypl.org/books-movies-music/special-collections/library-of-things
- Houston Public Library: Library of Things: https://houstonlibrary.org/library-of-things
- Los Angeles Public Library: Borrow a Ukulele: https://www.lapl.org/borrow-ukulele
- Los Angeles Public Library: Birdwatching Kits: https://www.lapl.org/birdwatching-kits
- Jefferson-Madison Regional Library: Library of Things: https://jmrl.org/library-things