View Online: #LibraryOfThings – A Critical Component of #Libraries as Access Points to a #Local, #Resilient, and #SustainableFuture

16 March 2026

"The recording of #20 in #IFLA’s #Environment, #Sustainability and Libraries Section’s webinar series is now available below via YouTube and the slides are available on SlideShare.

Libraries lending beyond books exist all over the world but beyond that, libraries can be a disaster resource center, they can lend tools and items to try out before making an investment, they can offer events on how to #repair items—along with the tools required to do so. They serve as places where intergenerational groups connect over yard games and art activities. #LibrariesOfThings provide access to a wide range of items from gear for adventures to essential wellbeing tools. This webinar will share how to plug into this rapidly growing and increasingly connected system of Libraries of Things, both inside and outside the traditional library world, and discover how they can help you meet your goals.

About the Speaker:
#HazelOnsrud is a public librarian at #CurtisMemorialLibrary, who works on community programming and collection development, including an extensive library of things focused on the Sustainable Development Goals. She serves on the international Library of Things Mutual Aid Group, the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the Steering Team of MECollab. She enjoys collaborating with good humans around the globe and was named a 2024 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and a 2025 New York Times Changemaker. Prior to her work as public librarian, Hazel co-founded the #MaineToolLibrary and spent a bunch of time learning from graceful teachers. In her free time, she likes to create things, eat molés and design #Gardens. "

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whdD0YRaKdU&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ifla.org%2F

Learn more:
https://www.ifla.org/news/view-online-library-of-things-a-critical-component-of-libraries-as-access-points-to-a-local-resilient-and-sustainable-future/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineLibraries #ReduceReuseRepair #LibrariesRule #ClimateAdaptation #BuildingCommunity #CircularEconomy #SolarPunk #Libraries #SharingEconomy #SharingResources

ENSULIB Webinar #21: Library of Things - A Critical Component of Libraries

YouTube