As it turns out there are thousands of staffed libraries around the world that are either adjacent or nearby parks.
Libraries near parks are a great place to offer recreation equipment for use in the park. Here's several examples where this is already occurring...
West Torrens Library Australia
"We are lucky that we have a park right outside our windows.
Staff have been known to tell a bunch of rowdy kids to take a ball, go
out to the park and work off their excess energy before they come back
inside and sometimes the youth staff will start or join in the game for a
little while - its all part of building good relationships".
Sacramento's
Belle Cooledge Library lends Ping Pong paddles for use in adjacent
Belle Cooledge Park.
The paddles were donated by one of their city council members. A sign in the library lets patrons know about the paddles. They currently circulate around 52 times a year.
The paddles were donated by one of their city council members. A sign in the library lets patrons know about the paddles. They currently circulate around 52 times a year.
Maine Library
“Our Library checks out
basketballs to be used on the courts near the library. We also have
frisbees, jump ropes and hacky sacks available to borrow. The balls have
been replaced many times through the years and have resulted in much
good will with the kids after school. When they (the kids!) start
bouncing off the walls, we suggest they bounce a basketball instead. .” Maine Library
The libraries I contacted do not work with their parks department counterparts on recreation equipment lending. If they did and if libraries get permission to hang large banners at parks it can make this idea work even better
Interlibrary Loan
A
branch library may not have room or funding to stock all the types of
recreation equipment needed to cover all special needs For example
the Cuyahoga Ohio County Public Library has solved this problem for
toy borrowers. They
offer more than 700 different age appropriate toys, including toys
adapted for children with special needs. Items may be requested online
for delivery to any one of their 25 branches link
Many branch libraries would be hard pressed to store 700 objects like these. .But
by having on premise a core of commonly requested equipment, a
branch library can meet the most requested "recreation objects" in
real time, and act as the delivery location for other requested
items.
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