Boston public library 3d printer

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Library of Things - Public Library of Brookline

Here at the Public Library of Brookline, we believe that community knowledge and support is bigger than anything that can be contained in books and films alone: it’s playing a board game with your friends and family or challenging yourself to try a new piece of technology. It’s being inspired by a work of art in a local museum or having the tools you need to land that job interview.

Our Library of Things is a collection of objects that provide the opportunity to learn and grow by doing, seeing, and making. Check out all our current holdings below.

Please Note: Unless otherwise indicated, Library of Things items must be checked out and returned to the desk of the owning library location. Do not place in book drop. To help ensure access to this collection, placing holds for the same Library of Things item at multiple locations or for another copy of a Library of Things item you currently have checked out is prohibited. Additionally, returned Library of Things items cannot be checked out to the same patron for at least 24 hours.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

A Chromebook is a simple laptop. The Library’s Chromebooks can be used to access the internet and use Google-based office software, similar to the rest of the Library’s computers. The Library has Chromebooks available for both in-Library use and 2-week borrowing! External mice are included with all our circulating Chromebooks.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Digital Projectors connect to your USB drive, phone, computer, or DVD player and turn any blank surface into a theater! Plus, they have built-in speakers and up to 3 hours of battery life, so you can take the show anywhere – just provide your own HDMI-compatible device.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our graphics tablets let you replace your mouse with a high-precision stylus and drawing pad to make digital illustration a breeze! Watch a step-by-step Graphics Tablet walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our iPads com equipped with assistive technology apps developed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and/or visual or hearing impairments. They also include apps for literacy development and healthcare, as well as games, education, and library resources for all audiences. View a full list of the apps on our iPads.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Our Memory Lab is a dedicated computer at the Brookline Village Library equipped with the tools you need to convert your home audio and video into new formats, including cassette tapes, 8mm and Super 8 film, floppy disks, negatives, photos, slides, VHS tapes, and vinyl records. Just give us a call or chat with us to reserve the station for a three-hour time slot any time during our open hours. Want to get a feel for the tools available before you arrive? No problem! View our full Memory Lab Technical Specifications for make and model information and user manuals.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Everything old is new again with our record player collection. We have a Record Player available for in-Library use! We also have headphones and records available for check out. Our reference staff will be happy to teach you how to use the players so you can discover the joy of vinyl.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Get instant access to hundreds of the Library’s movies and television shows. We have Roku Media Streaming Devices available to borrow! All you need to use one is a television (with HDMI support) and an internet connection. Need help understanding how you can use Roku in your home? Our reference staff would be happy to lend a hand. Just give us a call at 617-730-2370×3 to place a hold.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Recording lectures or interviewing your relatives for a family history project, our voice recorders offer ultra-portable, all-in-one audio recording, playback, and USB connection for transferring your files.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

WiFi Hotspots let you connect to the internet anywhere there’s a cell tower signal! They’re great for car trips or temporary internet needs.

Please Note: To help ensure access to this resource, placing holds for a hotspot at multiple Library locations or while you are currently borrowing a hotspot is prohibited. Additionally, a recently returned hotspot may not be checked out to the same library account for at least 24 hours.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Perfect for beginners, our 3D Printers can print projects up to 4.6″ x 4.3″ x 4.5″ and come with 21′ of free PLA filament with each borrow. Watch a step-by-step 3D Printing walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team. Please note: M3D software is only compatible with Windows, Linux, and some older Apple operating systems.

Have a bigger project in mind? Submit a 3D design and have our ideaSPACE Team print your design for you for the cost of the plastic used (25¢/gram).

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Got something to say? Say it with a button! Our Button Makers can create 1.5″ buttons out of any printer weight paper. We just charge 25¢ per button to cover the cost of supplies, which must be paid in cash.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER & PUTTERHAM

If you gave a robot an Xacto knife, you’d have a Cricut! Our Cricut Explore Machines connect to your smartphone or computer in minutes and can cut paper, vinyl, iron-on, and more into any design you can dream up. Watch a step-by-step Cricut Explore walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Apply flawless iron-on or infusible ink designs in minutes with our 9″ x 9″ Cricut Easypress 2 or Cricut Mug Press! Required butcher paper and heat transfer vinyl or Infusible Ink products are not included. Learn how to use Cricut heat press machines on the manufacturer’s website.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Cricut Joys have all the paper, vinyl, and iron-on cutting power as our full-sized Cricuts jam-packed into a tiny 8″ x 4″ x 4″ tote bag, perfect for paper crafting on-the-go! Watch a step-by-step Cricut Joy walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

The same machine as the Cricut Explore, but super-charged! Our Cricut Makers can cut not only paper and vinyl, but also fabric, leather, and wood, plus use a variety of extra tools available to borrow as part of our Cricut Specialty Kit. Watch a step-by-step Cricut Maker walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Crochet Hook sets come in a pouch of 14 stainless steel hooks so you can experiment with the perfect size for your project – just add your own yarn!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Engravers are super-simple machines that can etch anything from wood to metal! Just plug them into a standard wall outlet, then use them to label your bicycle or carve a design in a cutting board – the possibilities are endless.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our aluminum Knitting Needle sets come in pouches of three pairs of common sizes – US 6, 7, & 8 or US 8, 9, & 10 – so you can experiment with the perfect size for your project!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

Laser Cutter

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Our Laser Cutter can cut and engrave custom designs in wood, acrylic, and more! Choose your material and submit a laser cutting design for our ideaSPACE Team to cut for you for the cost of materials (usually 25¢ per square inch). Interested but aren’t sure how to get started? Watch a step-by-step video walkthrough of creating a laser cutting design!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER LIBRARY

Have big DIY dreams but a somewhat less-big Brookline apartment? Save your space and a trip to the hardware store with this collection of over 50 hand and power tools, including screwdriver sets, drills, saws, ladders, and a lot more exclusively at our Coolidge Corner location! All tools in this collection require the completion of a safety waiver on checkout. Need more details before you place a hold? View detailed technical specifications for all our tools.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Whether you’re looking for a family fun night or weekend of gaming with your friends, the Brookline Village Library has a collection of board and card games sure to please. We feature popular games for adults like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, as well as family classics like Sorry and Chutes & Ladders.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Looking to practice your English but tired of textbooks? Our ELL Kits are for you! Each kit is packed with books, games, guides, and more all in an easy-to-carry canvas tote bag and come in six themes designed to help you develop your language skills while having fun at home and around Brookline and Boston:

• Boston and Brookline
• Get Cooking
• Get Reading
• Exploring Nature
• Family Reading
• Word Games

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Going camping? Take everything you need in one of the Library’s daypacks or multiday hiking packs on your next outdoor adventure!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Rain in the forecast? Ranging in in size from 375 to 1000 pieces, our jigsaw puzzle collection is a perfect indoor activity for beginning and expert puzzlers alike!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Launchpads are preloaded tablets with educational content for kids, full of games and videos covering topics from literacy to dinosaurs to cooking, and more. There is no download time and no WiFi connection needed!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE & COOLIDGE CORNER

Having a party or just want to give the Nintendo Switch at try before purchasing? Our Nintendo Switch consoles come with one dual-controller and two popular party games: 1-2 Switch and Mario Kart, and you can borrow even more games from our video game collection!

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Make children’s learning on the iPad fun and engaging with one of our Osmo Kits. All you need to get started is an iPad (not provided in kit). Whether your child is an artist, gamer, scientist, or genius, there’s an Osmo Kit for everyone!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

The Library’s Telescopes are simple but powerful machines for stargazing. Complete with instructions and a constellation guide, they’re a great way to spend an evening! Our telescopes are made available thanks to the Aldrich Astronomical Society’s Adopt-A-Library Telescope program.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Going on a trip or just want to practice your survival skills in your backyard? Our four-person tents are perfect for your next outdoor adventure – big or small!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Want to try a new instrument or teach a friend a few tunes? Take the Library’s ukulele for a spin! Don’t forget to order some ukulele instruction books to go along with the instrument.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Trying to cut down on media clutter in your house, or want to try out a new video game before buying it? We have games for children, teens, and adults, and we feature games on a variety of consoles: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.

Unlike most of our Library of Things items, video games can be sent between Library locations via delivery! Limit 2 games per library card.

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Planning a BBQ or just want to hang out on the Library’s front lawn? Grab one of our large-scale outdoor game sets, including Giant Jenga, and Horseshoes!

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE & COOLIDGE CORNER

Do you have a party coming up that begs for a Darth Vader cake? We offer over 50 novelty pans that may be checked out from the Library (just bring it back clean).

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER & PUTTERHAM

Try out an environmentally-friendly way to cook with our induction cooking kits, available at the Coolidge Corner and Putterham Library! Each cooking kit includes an induction plate, a frying pan, a pot with a lid, and a set of instructions.
Our induction cooking kits are thanks to the generosity of Mothers Out Front of Brookline.

4-WEEK LOAN | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Kill-A-Watt energy meters provide information about the electrical consumption of small to medium electrical devices in your home to help you discover the hidden or ‘phantom’ loads that are surprisingly common even when electrical devices are turned off.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Whether you’re brand new to sewing or an expert quilter, our Sewing Machines have all the features you need for your next project, including 60 stitches, 3 needle sizes, and 9 presser feet. Watch a step-by-step Sewing Machine walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER LIBRARY

Have big DIY dreams but a somewhat less-big Brookline apartment? Save your space and a trip to the hardware store with this collection of over 50 hand and power tools, including screwdriver sets, drills, saws, ladders, and a lot more exclusively at our Coolidge Corner location! All tools in this collection require the completion of a safety waiver on checkout. Need more details before you place a hold? View detailed technical specifications for all our tools.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Perfect for beginners, our 3D Printers can print projects up to 4.6″ x 4.3″ x 4.5″ and come with 21′ of free PLA filament with each borrow. Watch a step-by-step 3D Printing walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team. Please note: M3D software is only compatible with Windows, Linux, and some older Apple operating systems.

Have a bigger project in mind? Submit a 3D design and have our ideaSPACE Team print your design for you for the cost of the plastic used (25¢/gram).

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Whether you’re looking for a family fun night or weekend of gaming with your friends, the Brookline Village Library has a collection of board and card games sure to please. We feature popular games for adults like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, as well as family classics like Sorry and Chutes & Ladders.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Got something to say? Say it with a button! Our Button Makers can create 1. 5″ buttons out of any printer weight paper. We just charge 25¢ per button to cover the cost of supplies, which must be paid in cash.

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE & COOLIDGE CORNER

Do you have a party coming up that begs for a Darth Vader cake? We offer over 50 novelty pans that may be checked out from the Library (just bring it back clean).

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

A Chromebook is a simple laptop. The Library’s Chromebooks can be used to access the internet and use Google-based office software, similar to the rest of the Library’s computers. The Library has Chromebooks available for both in-Library use and 2-week borrowing! External mice are included with all our circulating Chromebooks.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER & PUTTERHAM

If you gave a robot an Xacto knife, you’d have a Cricut! Our Cricut Explore Machines connect to your smartphone or computer in minutes and can cut paper, vinyl, iron-on, and more into any design you can dream up. Watch a step-by-step Cricut Explore walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Apply flawless iron-on or infusible ink designs in minutes with our 9″ x 9″ Cricut Easypress 2 or Cricut Mug Press! Required butcher paper and heat transfer vinyl or Infusible Ink products are not included. Learn how to use Cricut heat press machines on the manufacturer’s website.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Cricut Joys have all the paper, vinyl, and iron-on cutting power as our full-sized Cricuts jam-packed into a tiny 8″ x 4″ x 4″ tote bag, perfect for paper crafting on-the-go! Watch a step-by-step Cricut Joy walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

The same machine as the Cricut Explore, but super-charged! Our Cricut Makers can cut not only paper and vinyl, but also fabric, leather, and wood, plus use a variety of extra tools available to borrow as part of our Cricut Specialty Kit. Watch a step-by-step Cricut Maker walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Crochet Hook sets come in a pouch of 14 stainless steel hooks so you can experiment with the perfect size for your project – just add your own yarn!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Digital Projectors connect to your USB drive, phone, computer, or DVD player and turn any blank surface into a theater! Plus, they have built-in speakers and up to 3 hours of battery life, so you can take the show anywhere – just provide your own HDMI-compatible device.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Looking to practice your English but tired of textbooks? Our ELL Kits are for you! Each kit is packed with books, games, guides, and more all in an easy-to-carry canvas tote bag and come in six themes designed to help you develop your language skills while having fun at home and around Brookline and Boston:

• Boston and Brookline
• Get Cooking
• Get Reading
• Exploring Nature
• Family Reading
• Word Games

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Engravers are super-simple machines that can etch anything from wood to metal! Just plug them into a standard wall outlet, then use them to label your bicycle or carve a design in a cutting board – the possibilities are endless.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our graphics tablets let you replace your mouse with a high-precision stylus and drawing pad to make digital illustration a breeze! Watch a step-by-step Graphics Tablet walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Going camping? Take everything you need in one of the Library’s daypacks or multiday hiking packs on your next outdoor adventure!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER & PUTTERHAM

Try out an environmentally-friendly way to cook with our induction cooking kits, available at the Coolidge Corner and Putterham Library! Each cooking kit includes an induction plate, a frying pan, a pot with a lid, and a set of instructions.
Our induction cooking kits are thanks to the generosity of Mothers Out Front of Brookline.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our iPads com equipped with assistive technology apps developed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and/or visual or hearing impairments. They also include apps for literacy development and healthcare, as well as games, education, and library resources for all audiences. View a full list of the apps on our iPads.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Rain in the forecast? Ranging in in size from 375 to 1000 pieces, our jigsaw puzzle collection is a perfect indoor activity for beginning and expert puzzlers alike!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN | ALL LIBRARIES

Our Kill-A-Watt energy meters provide information about the electrical consumption of small to medium electrical devices in your home to help you discover the hidden or ‘phantom’ loads that are surprisingly common even when electrical devices are turned off.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Our aluminum Knitting Needle sets come in pouches of three pairs of common sizes – US 6, 7, & 8 or US 8, 9, & 10 – so you can experiment with the perfect size for your project!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

Laser Cutter

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Our Laser Cutter can cut and engrave custom designs in wood, acrylic, and more! Choose your material and submit a laser cutting design for our ideaSPACE Team to cut for you for the cost of materials (usually 25¢ per square inch). Interested but aren’t sure how to get started? Watch a step-by-step video walkthrough of creating a laser cutting design!

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Launchpads are preloaded tablets with educational content for kids, full of games and videos covering topics from literacy to dinosaurs to cooking, and more. There is no download time and no WiFi connection needed!

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Our Memory Lab is a dedicated computer at the Brookline Village Library equipped with the tools you need to convert your home audio and video into new formats, including cassette tapes, 8mm and Super 8 film, floppy disks, negatives, photos, slides, VHS tapes, and vinyl records. Just give us a call or chat with us to reserve the station for a three-hour time slot any time during our open hours. Want to get a feel for the tools available before you arrive? No problem! View our full Memory Lab Technical Specifications for make and model information and user manuals.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE & COOLIDGE CORNER

Having a party or just want to give the Nintendo Switch at try before purchasing? Our Nintendo Switch consoles come with one dual-controller and two popular party games: 1-2 Switch and Mario Kart, and you can borrow even more games from our video game collection!

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Make children’s learning on the iPad fun and engaging with one of our Osmo Kits. All you need to get started is an iPad (not provided in kit). Whether your child is an artist, gamer, scientist, or genius, there’s an Osmo Kit for everyone!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Everything old is new again with our record player collection. We have a Record Player available for in-Library use! We also have headphones and records available for check out. Our reference staff will be happy to teach you how to use the players so you can discover the joy of vinyl.

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Get instant access to hundreds of the Library’s movies and television shows. We have Roku Media Streaming Devices available to borrow! All you need to use one is a television (with HDMI support) and an internet connection. Need help understanding how you can use Roku in your home? Our reference staff would be happy to lend a hand. Just give us a call at 617-730-2370×3 to place a hold.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Whether you’re brand new to sewing or an expert quilter, our Sewing Machines have all the features you need for your next project, including 60 stitches, 3 needle sizes, and 9 presser feet. Watch a step-by-step Sewing Machine walkthrough with a member of our ideaSPACE Team.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

4-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

The Library’s Telescopes are simple but powerful machines for stargazing. Complete with instructions and a constellation guide, they’re a great way to spend an evening! Our telescopes are made available thanks to the Aldrich Astronomical Society’s Adopt-A-Library Telescope program.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Going on a trip or just want to practice your survival skills in your backyard? Our four-person tents are perfect for your next outdoor adventure – big or small!

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | COOLIDGE CORNER LIBRARY

Have big DIY dreams but a somewhat less-big Brookline apartment? Save your space and a trip to the hardware store with this collection of over 50 hand and power tools, including screwdriver sets, drills, saws, ladders, and a lot more exclusively at our Coolidge Corner location! All tools in this collection require the completion of a safety waiver on checkout. Need more details before you place a hold? View detailed technical specifications for all our tools.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Want to try a new instrument or teach a friend a few tunes? Take the Library’s ukulele for a spin! Don’t forget to order some ukulele instruction books to go along with the instrument.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Trying to cut down on media clutter in your house, or want to try out a new video game before buying it? We have games for children, teens, and adults, and we feature games on a variety of consoles: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.

Unlike most of our Library of Things items, video games can be sent between Library locations via delivery! Limit 2 games per library card.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

Recording lectures or interviewing your relatives for a family history project, our voice recorders offer ultra-portable, all-in-one audio recording, playback, and USB connection for transferring your files.

Ready to borrow? Reserve this item by phone at 617-730-2370x3.

2-WEEK LOAN, RENEWABLE | ALL LIBRARIES

WiFi Hotspots let you connect to the internet anywhere there’s a cell tower signal! They’re great for car trips or temporary internet needs.

Please Note: To help ensure access to this resource, placing holds for a hotspot at multiple Library locations or while you are currently borrowing a hotspot is prohibited. Additionally, a recently returned hotspot may not be checked out to the same library account for at least 24 hours.

2-WEEK LOAN | BROOKLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY

Planning a BBQ or just want to hang out on the Library’s front lawn? Grab one of our large-scale outdoor game sets, including Giant Jenga, and Horseshoes!

Ready to borrow? This item is browse-only - visit the Library to see what we have on hand!

National Library of Tatarstan: Garage museum experts on new cultural spaces

Maria
Perebayeva

Inner sense of relevance to the place

At the end of April, a public talk was held in Kazan with Garage library staff — art critic Valery Ledenev and librarian Maryana Karysheva. The event was organized by the Department of Cultural Programs of the Foundation "Institute for the Development of Cities of the Republic of Tatarstan" together with the National Library. Inde spoke with experts about the changing role of the book, reader behavior strategies and the cultural program in libraries. nine0004

Today there are discussions about the status of books and reading: they say that we have begun to read less and turn to books less often. At the same time, in order to confirm their expertise, their experience is often summarized in the book - this is what bloggers, doctors, critics and journalists do. Is it inertia or a new phenomenon?

Valery: If we talk about expertise, then the book retains its status as a symbol of expertise, and published books can really increase the symbolic capital of their author. There are criteria and technologies of expertise. If a person has written a book, he is not necessarily an expert. A blogger can even start his book by saying that he does not want to claim high status, but wants to express his views, experience, share pictures. If we are talking about a scientific book, then a scientific monograph has research criteria: works are reviewed, tested, legitimized, and if the book has a scientific editor, reviewer, we can consider it an expert one. If the book is printed in a printing house by the author himself, there is a question whether to consider him an expert. nine0003

But today we cannot talk about a universal structure of expertise — there are very different areas of human practice, in which there may be different criteria for what is considered expertise. If we are talking about a writer or a scientist, a teacher, we expect such people to write books, but today, in addition to universities, print media and literary magazines, there are a huge number of sources for obtaining information: social networks and blogging are actively developing. The book has lost its privilege to be considered the main place for the transmission of knowledge, the privilege of authenticity and the only possible legitimacy. On the one hand, there are many opportunities to receive information, learn, transmit knowledge and talk about the world, on the other hand, the very structure of reading is changing. There is an opinion that people stop reading books and generally stop reading, but we spend a lot of time on social networks, and we read quite a lot there: these can be long posts, sometimes not inferior in volume to a small article in the media, and if we translate into the volume of a book pages, it turns out that we read quite a lot every day, not to mention video blogging, where there are authoritative experts, for example, Oksana Moroz and her "Evil Culturologist's Blog" or political scientist Ekaterina Shulman, who accumulates all her videos on her channel: this is also expert opinion is also the consumption of information and in a sense it is also reading. So we just read differently today. nine0004

If the book is not the only legitimate source of knowledge dissemination, what place does it occupy in the modern library, where knowledge is disseminated in different ways?

Valery: People come to libraries not only to read books - sometimes it causes anxiety. But has the library always been just a place to store books? It is worth remembering that this is also a place of knowledge production: philosophers Georges Bataille, Nikolai Fedorov, writer Jorge Luis Borges worked in the library. nine0004

Maryana: I work in the Garage library in the periodicals department — it stores exactly the knowledge that does not fit into the format of a book, current information that used to be an analogue of blogging. Libraries in small towns also store the city archives. Let's keep in mind that public libraries are not so many years old: in 1850, the British Public Libraries Act appeared, and only then libraries in the usual sense began to appear. Before that, there were university, monastic, royal, private, in the UK there were paid libraries - these are different forms that changed with the era. Libraries, in fact, brought up students, gave the necessary literature to those who did not have it at home, and also formed a community and made it possible to get an education on their own. In this sense, their function has not changed. I can assume that I was sagging in visiting libraries (not all, but for example, regional ones) at 19In the 1990s, when people had to work dozens of times more and they survived, they had no time for culture at all, and now libraries have again become a place of power.

Valery: Today we cannot think of any cultural platform or practice in a one-dimensional way: any cultural platform has a cafe, a film screening program, an educational program, and formats that attract an audience with different needs. As the library celebrates the complexity of the world around it, it must become complex. And since the library is a public space, not only does the library translate itself to the outside, but the society somehow uses this urban space. We cannot resist the fact that people, when they come to the library, want to do something that is not related to bibliographic service. This is not a reason to worry or rejoice - it's just a cash situation. nine0004

A library is a place to store books, to preserve knowledge, but people come here not only and not so much to read. How can the library not lose itself and remain a space where the book takes pride of place?

Valery: Firstly, it will not lose itself, because this selfhood has been historically formed and the cultural capital accumulated by libraries cannot be destroyed so easily. Secondly, if the structure of activity or the technology of knowledge consumption changes, this does not mean that one will replace the other. More often than not, technologies coexist with each other and are adopted differently by different people. We have mobile phones, while we continue to use city communications and send paper letters. We pay with cash, with a bank card, with bitcoins, and with a mobile application. Therefore, the format of reading a paper book will remain as one of the ways of consuming knowledge, and the library will not lose its place precisely as a place with books, where these books are given to people. nine0004

Maryana: The library is not only readers (although it is very important that they are), it is also funds, employees, bibliographic records. If at some point the reader does not need books, this does not mean that he will not need them tomorrow. And the library will continue its work and tomorrow will meet the reader with full funds, good bibliographic descriptions, and the possibility of an easy book search. The story develops non-linearly, and if at some point people turn away from books, then they will return to them. The library should function in the form in which it exists. We have a rather special library, it is dedicated to contemporary art, most often people come to us with a specific request. Every year there are more and more visitors, and we do not feel the loss of interest in books, it does not seem to me that there is cause for concern. nine0004

Valery: Libraries can be addressed to different audiences, they face the task of turning into a public space. But the library must remain authentic to itself: a library where other events take place, but which are adequate to the library - no need to try to turn it into a stadium, a concert hall or a cinema. I can understand employees who have been engaged in bibliographic activities all their lives and do not want to turn into event managers, but here it is necessary to create conditions for painless and organic changes. There should be an appropriate personnel policy so that those who want to deal with books should deal with books, and those who want to deal with public programs should do it. nine0004

You said that the library should remain authentic to itself. Which opportunities, communication strategies, activities are adequate and which are not? How can this be determined?

Valery: Any space, team, cultural topos has its own resource. One library has unique collections, the other has employees with their own interests, there is a conditional activity profile, the mission of the library. For example, a library on contemporary art - it contains materials from contemporary artists, and meetings with artists or exhibitions would be appropriate there. It is worth relying on the context in which a particular library exists. It seems to me that there can be no other answer to the question “How to do this?” Except "What do you think". You can hold concerts and raves, if it works out, you just don’t need to do what doesn’t work out, jump over your head and speak a language that you don’t know how and don’t want to. We were at Ushkova’s house, and Albina Binarisovna (Galimbekova, head of the department of external relations of the National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan. - Approx. "Inde") gave us an excellent tour - this is the resource that can be used, although it is not directly related to books. nine0004

Maryana: District libraries create a good local community. They meet with the residents of the area, arrange language courses, children's clubs - here the inner feeling of adequacy to the place is the very pointer. It’s even hard for me to imagine what a library should do, so that it doesn’t correspond at all ... A library that went fishing? It's hard to imagine. But somewhere it could be. You can start from what is interesting to employees: for example, in Moscow there is the Akhmatovka library, and there is a specialist Andrei Drozdov who is interested in comics, collects and promotes them. nine0004

How are library visitor strategies changing now? Are there new trends?

Valery: At least the fact that the library is turning into a public space, such as coworking. Quite a significant percentage, I probably will not be mistaken if I give a figure: 30 percent of people want to work in the library with a laptop or use it as a free meeting room. In the same way, people come to a cafe where they can take a glass of water and still negotiate via zoom: they also take a table, take away seats from those who would order a couple of thousand, but we cannot resist the fact that people somehow how they use the space. It all depends on the resources of space: if you have a small reading room with good acoustics and someone comes and leads a zoom conference, it will be inappropriate, but not because the library is a sacred space and you can’t speak on zoom here, but because talking loudly will prevent people from reading difficult non-fiction. It's a matter of respect for others. If you have a cafe in your library, an isolated room - why not? nine0004

Maryana: Once I was in the Boston Public Library, where one reading room was half full of people reading, and in the other sat a homeless man: he looked the part, there were a dozen bags around him, he smelled bad. But this man had the right to be there. There was no one else in the hall: apparently, the rest were not very pleased. The openness of libraries can sometimes be so difficult, but if it is public and the library has some rules, then our American colleagues allow themselves such openness. It surprised me. Probably, if I had worked in this library, I would have reacted differently, but then I felt very sorry for this person - if he really cannot find another place for himself and the library opens its doors for him, that's great. nine0004

I also want to mention our Finnish colleagues, Oodi Library. It is a place to connect citizens in a public space. Given the specifics of Helsinki as a rather cold and dark city, it is very important to have a place where people can gather under the roof, where they can get equipment for free (3D printers, laser cutters, heat press, label printer, sewing machines and overlockers. — Note "Inde"), come to the recording studio. All this shows that the possibilities of the library as a third place are very great. Some librarians worry that no one will need them. But they are needed: cataloging, taking care of the book, knowledge of the collections, the ability to consult do not cease to be important. The Garage Library is located in Gorky Park, and many people come to us by chance. One day a young man came in and asked me something about biochemistry or higher mathematics. I replied that there were no such books, offered to look at the collections, gave a short tour of the open storage, got the book from the photography section - he really liked it. After 20 minutes of wandering around the library, he asked me to find the book that I showed again. I saw this young man in the library several more times. Yes, people just come to a co-working space, sit and warm up, and then take a book - and sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't. But this chance is very important. nine0004

In Soviet times, the library had an ideological function: to educate, educate, shape culture. To what extent should events in the library form this intellectual threshold: if we show movies, is it only possible to show von Trier, or TV series from TNT too?

Valery: Today there is no single ideology and no single intellectual threshold. The planning horizon is determined not by the general cultural and aesthetic background, but by an understanding of what you want to do. So it can also be TNT series: you can laugh at stupid jokes, quite sincerely believing that this is the funniest thing you can imagine, or you can conduct a cultural analysis of mass culture or gender images in advertising. As for the educational function, today the vertical model - one side teaches, and the other shakes the mustache - does not work. In Soviet times, when the level of literacy was lower, the appearance of a reading room in the village had a special meaning. Today we can talk about the educational function only in the sense that it is the launch of certain knowledge into circulation. nine0004

Maryana: The level of programs and work with visitors depends on the level of library staff and public demand. At one library conference I heard such a story from Yaroslavl. Lectures were regularly held in the library, and one day old ladies who lived nearby gathered there. When asked by the librarian what they were waiting for, they answered: “There should be a lecture about Russia.” The staff did not know that there should be such a lecture. But one of the librarians gathered her thoughts, rummaged through her memory, searched the Internet, and - the audience came, they are waiting - she gave them a lecture. It was probably some kind of announcement glitch, but people were very happy and thanked her. This is an illustration of the readiness and openness of librarians to any requirements and expectations of visitors. nine0004

To what extent can the library itself shape the fashion of cultural consumption?

Valery: We have a specialized library, so we don't pretend to form fashion, but we can form a circle of reading. I would not exaggerate the role of libraries in shaping taste, because this is one of the many sources of information. Unfortunately, we do not have any statistics on the attendance of libraries and their public programs, and it is unlikely that anyone has monitored how, for example, a meeting with an author affects sales. At the same time, I believe that any publicity helps: if the author spoke somewhere, if a lecture was given before the performance, this always affects, the only question is on what scale. It seems to me that the function of libraries is to provide multiple sources. This is not about the fact that we should form some kind of fashion, but about the fact that someone needs a certain source, maybe even not very popular and forgotten. It's more of a space of opportunity. Our colleague Alexandra Obukhova, the curator of the Garage archive, has a wonderful expression “the mercy of the archive”. We keep even the smallest scraps of information about the figures, which today seem very marginal to us, because in 50 years someone will be looking for information about this particular artist. Recently, a Russian translation of Amelia Jones’s book dedicated to Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven was published: this is an American dada artist who found herself on the periphery of history, largely because she made works that were not preserved, only information from someone’s words remained. This is part of the current discourse, which is based on marginalia, although Amelia Jones is a very popular figure, and the book was published by the authoritative publishing house Gilea. It is not very correct to oppose the idea of ​​storage and the idea of ​​relevance: the actual is connected with history, and history is relevant in one way or another. nine0004

What else can you extrapolate from your library experience?

Valery: I would just tell you about a project that I am especially proud of. It is called "In a Single Copy" - in this project we invite contemporary artists living in Russia, who make an artist's book with us and it remains in our collection. My idea was to invite not those authors who already have a significant background in the book genre, but those who have not yet worked with books, but who would be interested in it. We provide production, pay royalties, and thanks to this resource, new works appear. For me, this is an important example of how a library can participate in the artistic process. Another thing is that this format is quite specific, it is difficult to balance it - we are a private institution, and we have our own context; Probably, in state institutions it is more difficult. It seems to me not very correct to advise anything from this position, but the library can not only store, but also produce its content in cooperation with artists, artists. nine0003

Maryana: I work in the periodicals department, I love it very much. We have personal contacts with contemporary art magazines: we receive and buy literature from them, some foreign magazines on art, design, architecture, graphics and try to support our department in this way. This applies only to printed materials: online publications are easily accessible from anywhere in the world, and it makes no sense for a library to compete with the Internet. Literature, including printed and periodicals, is not getting smaller, despite the fact that information can be obtained from other sources. nine0004

^{Illustrations: Sergey Kotov}

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31 first picture in the history of different genres photos

August 19 is World Photography Day. The holiday was established in 2009 at the initiative of the Australian photographer Korske Ara due to the fact that on this day in 1839In 1998, a method for obtaining a photo print was presented - a daguerreotype, a prototype of photography.

In this collection, "Rosbalt Like" has collected the starting points of modern photomania - the very first pictures taken in different areas of photography, from the first image of a person to the first photo from space.

The first photograph in history is the "View from the Window", 1826.

Photo: wikipedia.org

The first fixed image was made in 1822 by the Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niepce, but it has not survived to this day. Therefore, the first photograph in history is considered to be the “View from the Window”, obtained by Niepce in 1826 using a camera obscura on a tin plate covered with a thin layer of asphalt. nine0004

The original of the world's first photograph actually looks like this:

Photo: wikipedia.org

First shot with a person. 1838 or 1839.

Photo: wikipedia.org

First selfie - self-portrait of Robert Cornelius, 1839.

Photo: wikipedia.org

The first woman in the photograph, 1839.

Photo: wikipedia.org

Dorothy Katherine Draper photographed by her brother and famous American photographer John Draper. By the way, in the same 1839.

The first falsification in photography, 1840.

Photo: wikipedia.org

There are a lot of examples when different people almost simultaneously invent the same things. But history loves single winners, and those who are even a minute late, she often forgets. nine0004

This is what happened with Hippolyte Bayard. As a close friend of Louis Daguerre, Bayard conducted parallel scientific research on how to capture the world through light on a plate, that is, to invent photography. According to rumors, Bayard achieved the desired result earlier than Daguerre, but a certain Louis-Francois Arago convinced Hippolyte to wait with a report on the discovery ...

Boyard made his report at the Academy of Sciences on February 24, 1840, but Louis Daguerre was half a year ahead of him and therefore is considered the official creator of the first photograph (and the method of obtaining prints called daguerreotype). nine0004

Hippolyte Bayard, of course, was upset, he even made this self-portrait. With the inscription below it: “The person who is depicted in this photo is Hippolyte Boyard, the inventor of photography. This man worked tirelessly for three years to find a way to preserve the light painting, but the French government fell in love with Mr. Daguerre more, and didn’t even remember about Boyard. The body of the drowned man spent more than three days in the morgue, but no one came for him.”

One of the first recorded wedding photographs in the world. 1854, February 10. nine0017