Library of Things

Memorial Hall Library has a long history of lending non-book items to its patrons. In the 1950s, under Library Director Miriam Putnam, MHL began circulating artwork, LP records and film strips. In the 1970's a sewing pattern exchange was started under Director Nancy Jacobson. In the early 2003, under Library Director Jim Sutton, MHL was the first Massachusetts public library to circulate downloadable audiobooks in MP3 format on mobile devices called Otis Audio Players sold by Audible.com. The Memorial Hall Library Seed Library was launched in January 2016. In 2017, Memorial Hall Library formalized it's Library of Things collection with a website, graphic posters publicity and funding for new, non-traditional and practical items for patrons to borrow including telescopes, graphing calculators, a guitar, craft kits and a Nintendo Switch.

See

• "Pattern Exchange Begins," Andover Townsman Nov. 3, 1977 page 33
• Road Trip Reading Memorial Hall's Digital Books Andover Townsman June 19, 2003 page 19
• More than books Andover's Library of Things Andover Townsman Thursday March 24, 2022, page 1.
• What's Happening at Memorial Hall Library Seed Library Takes Root Andover Townsman Dec. 22, 2015
• Framed Prints to Go on Loan Andover Townsman Dec. 31, 1953, page 4.
• Library offers varied services Andover Townsman Jan. 13, 1955 page 8

--Stephanie (talk) 10:38, 29 March 2022 (EDT)