Kent District Library lets neighbors borrow, discover and explore together

A family wants to watch birds. They could buy binoculars and a book about birds – or they could borrow a kit from Kent District Library and see if they enjoy the hobby. Likewise, people can borrow camping gear, musical instruments, and metal detectors before deciding whether to buy their own.

Those possibilities are part of KDL’s Beyond Books collection. Marie Mulder, the collection development librarian who selects its items, sees it as a way to make experiences available to people who might otherwise have to pass them up.

“The Beyond Books collection is designed to give access to higher-priced items that provide enrichment or educational benefits,” Mulder says. “We also try to select items that people might need only occasionally or want to try before they purchase.”

It is a practical response to a familiar question: How do you follow a new interest when trying it requires buying equipment you might use only once?

Mulder orders KDL’s adult nonfiction and music collections as well as Beyond Books. She enjoys hearing what people think the library should offer.

“I love the ideas that people have for our collection and being able to provide fun and educational items to folks who might not otherwise have access,” she says.

Disco kits and mahjong sets

Beyond Books includes camping extras, trekking poles, nature-watching kits, and metal detectors. It also offers games for different ages and musical instruments. One of Mulder’s favorites is a silent disco kit, which lets up to 50 people listen to music together through headsets. Mahjong sets have become popular lately, she says.

A family can borrow a game to play together. Someone who needs equipment for one occasion can return it when the job is done.

“Borrowing from the Beyond Books collection lets patrons try a new hobby, like birding, music, or metal detecting, without buying expensive gear they might not stick with,” Mulder says. “Many items, such as games, camping equipment, and our silent disco kit, are made for sharing, which makes it easy for a patron to bring family, friends, and neighbors together.

“And for things a patron only needs once, borrowing saves money, clutter, and waste, so everyone gets to explore, whatever their budget.”

Demand creates a challenge for KDL. Many people want to borrow the same items, and many Beyond Books items have hold lists. If someone needs an item on a certain day, they may have to request it early.

Diverse music source

Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen sees a similar opportunity in KDL’s music collection. He has collected records since he was 12, carrying them with him through moves over the years. He now offers curated vinyl nights where he DJs creating an eclectic soundscape at a Grand Rapids restaurant.

Allen owns many styles of music, but some records cost too much or are hard to find. “Sometimes records are limited run and just go out of print,” Allen says showcasing how some records just become out of reach to fans of vinyl.

Instead, when Allen finds a track he’d like to include in his set, he can borrow them from Beyond Books, an experience he likens to finding an out-of-print book at the library. Plus, he can enjoy them without buying a copy, then share them with others when he spins records during his three-hour, all vinyl sets.

KDL’s collection includes vinyl records and CDs. Patrons without a record player can borrow a portable turntable through Beyond Books. KDL lists pickup and return requirements for the turntables, so borrowers should check which branches offer them.

Allen, who enjoys the thrill of the hunt at KDL branches with vinyl collections, encourages people to leave room for surprises when they browse. They might discover a new artist, listen to a song on one of the library’s turntables, or borrow a record to listen to more at home.

KDL Vibes is a digital collection devoted to West Michigan musicians. Anyone can stream its music, while KDL cardholders can also download it, says Adam Marth, a branch librarian at KDL’s Wyoming Branch.

Marth is one of three people who help run KDL Vibes. He listens to music sent in by local artists and helps choose what to add. As a musician himself, he enjoys helping people discover their music.

“I really enjoy getting to see the variety of submissions every round, discovering new artists in the area, and watching the collection grow with new artists every year,” Marth says. “There are so many talented artists here, and I love that the library can help connect patrons with their work.”

The collection has many kinds of music, from hip-hop and jazz to rock and folk. Local artists include MOLLY, Justin Avdek, Phabies and Quilter.

“You can come looking for something specific or just browse and discover something completely new,” Marth says. “It’s kind of rare these days to find a collection of music entirely focused on local musicians.”

Marth hopes hearing an artist on Vibes might lead someone to see that musician perform. He also hears from artists who appreciate having their work included in a library collection.

KDL’s collections offer several places to start and develop new interests. Allen finds that possibility in the music stacks. Mulder sees it in the ideas people bring to Beyond Books. Marth hears it in each round of local artists who submit their work. Each collection gives patrons a place to begin, with no need to know where their curiosity will lead.

“The other thing is also just pure discovery,” Allen says.