89 Useful Items You Can Borrow From the Library For Free…Besides Books!

From Udemy courses to fishing poles, power tools, and karaoke machines, the library might be your best bet to save money.

Bet you didn’t know you could borrow other items from your local library besides books…

Also called “The Library of Things,” libraries across the country carry a wide variety of useful items you can borrow for a week or two without spending your hard-earned cash.

When money’s tight, every dollar makes a difference.

Why buy if you know you only need to use it a few times, or maybe you want to try it out first to see if you want it before buying….

Take a look at the list below of 89 things you can borrow — BESIDES BOOKS. You’ll find that the library card in your wallet is much more valuable than you think!

Items You Can Borrow From the Library — Besides Books

The items available will vary from library to library, so you should call or visit their website to see what they have before walking in to borrow a specific item. But one thing’s for sure — there’s something for everyone!

Whether you’re babysitting and want to bake a fun cake or festively shaped cookies with the kids, use a karaoke machine for a graduation part, or need binoculars for your weekend hiking trip — your local library may be the free way to do so!

1. Digital Magazines

2. Ebooks

3. Audiobooks

Subscription Databases

No need to pay for your own subscription to research information. Did you know you can use the library’s account to log in and use subscriptions and data sites?

4. Consumer Reports

5. Ancestry

6. Heritage Quest

7. Morningstar Investment

8. Udemy Courses

9. Linkedin Learning

10. Online research databases

Electronics

11. VHS (VCR) to DVD converter

12. Laptops & Chromebooks

Health/Fitness

If you find yourself or a loved one needing a walker or wheelchair temporarily due to an injury, you can save a lot of money by borrowing one from your local library. Before spending your hard-earned money on tech, like a Fitbit, check one out to see if you like it first. Those aren’t cheap, so testing it beforehand is a great idea!

13. Blood Pressure Monitor

14. Fitbit

15. Wheelchair

16. Walker

17. Light therapy lamp

Power Tools

Tools can get expensive, especially when you only need them for a one-time project. Borrow it instead of buying it!

18. Stud sensor

19. Electric screwdrivers

20. Socket sets

21. Thermal leak detectors

22. Power drills

23. Laser levels

24. Wrenches

25. Saws

26. Pressure washer

Kitchen Equipment & Small Appliances

Still trying to decide whether to buy a new kitchen gadget?

Only need to bake a bundt cake or a Darth Vader birthday cake once?

Then save money and kitchen space by borrowing the item from your library.

Cooking Gadgets

27. Air fryer

28. Instapot

29. Crockpot

30. Food processor

Baking Ware

If you like to bake cookies and cakes for each season, check out seasonal bakeware instead of spending money and taking up space in your kitchen. Check them out for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and more!

31. Cake Pans (Bundt Cakes, Seasonal Cakes, Themed, Birthdays)

32. Mixer

33. Cake pop maker

34. Waffle iron

35. Cookie cutters

Outdoor/Sports Gear

If you aren’t an outdoor fanatic, it’s likely that snowshoes and skis aren’t part of your regular winter wardrobe. The next time you go on a hike or want to go stargazing, don’t run out to buy binoculars or telescopes — check your local library first!

36. Snowshoes

37. Fishing Poles

38. Snow Shovels

39. Telescopes for stargazing

40. Croquet set

41. Skis

42. Lifejackets

43. Binoculars

45. Shade tents

46. Bicycles & Bike Locks & helmets

47. Metal detector

48. State Park Passes Passes

Entertainment:

49. Chromecast

50. Roku stick

51. Apple TV

52. Microphone

53. Gaming console

54. Museum and art gallery passes

55. Ring light

56. Kindle & Laptop

57. Movies

58. Dvd player

59. Karaoke Machine

60. Board games

61. Jigsaw puzzles

62. Video games

63. VR device

Arts & Crafts

New hobbies can be expensive. Have you ever been guilty of starting a new hobby, spending money on all the needed materials, then giving it up shortly out of disinterest? If so, the next time a new activity sparks your interest — see if the library carries any needed items first.

64. Sewing machine

65. Crochet items

66. Cricut items

67. Glue gun

68. Label maker

69. Laminator

Musical Instruments

Yes-you can borrow a musical instrument. Now those can really get pricey, so being able to borrow one for a week or two can help you save.

70. DJ equipment

71. Guitars

72. Guitar amps and pedals

73. Microphone and stand

74. Tambourines

75. Keyboards

76. Violin

77. Flute

Gardening Items

If you have some gardening or a landscaping project to work on, chances are you’ll need to buy some specific tools.

Maybe you don’t need to spend money after all — take a look:

78. Seeds. You don’t really borrow them. They kindly ask you to bring some seeds back from what you’re able to grow at home.

79. Shovels

80. Leaf blower

81. Rake

82. Wheelbarrow

Random/Miscellaneous

You never know when one of these items can come in handy, but when they do, you’ll save some moola for sure!

82. Halloween Costumes

84. Prom Dresses

85. Paper shredder

86. Bubble machine

87. Sno-cone maker

88. Disco Ball

89. Green Screens

Try Before You Buy

Most libraries allow you to check out items for one to three weeks and may limit you to checking out 1–2 items at a time.

There may be restrictions and guidelines- such as needing to be over 18 and not having any fines or penalties. Late fees apply, often $10-$20 per day, with additional penalties for damages.

If you’re looking to save some cash for something you only need for a night or week, a library in your city might be your best bet!

Originally published at https://wellnessinablender.com on February 26, 2023.