Display and storage of Library Things

[Wendy Hysko]

Hi all-

Do you have any display or storage for Library of Things materials that work well for your library. We are thinking of options and I'd love pictures, or info on what is working for you, and any benefits of drawbacks to keep in mind. Please share. Thanks!

--

Wendy Hysko

Director, Brownell Library

President, Green Mountain Library Consortium

6 Lincoln Street

Essex Junction, VT 05452

(802) 878-6955 (Main Desk))

www.brownelllibrary.org

http://www.facebook.com/brownelllibrary

[Wendy Hysko]

It would be great to hear and see ideas, several people have asked for me to share the responses I get. If you do have anything to share, colleagues in New England are curious, so ideally reply to the list, though it's also ok if you don't. It's a new sort of collection a lot of us are struggling to house and display. Thanks so much!

[Katherine Thomas]

here's our solution!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Katherine Thomas <kth...@hampstead.lib.nh.us>
Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [NELA] Display and storage of Library Things
To: Wendy Hysko <wen...@brownelllibrary.org>

We have these cubes on a table near our main desk.  Plus a binder with pages of our cake pans. in one pic you'll see we note the barcode number on it, and where it is stored so staff can find it to give to patrons. They are mostly stored in our basement in wire shelves so we go collect them when a patron requests.

Kate Thomas

Hampstead NH

On Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM Wendy Hysko <wen...@brownelllibrary.org> wrote:

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "New England Library Association Discussion List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nela-discussion-...@nelib.org.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nelib.org/d/msgid/nela-discussion-list/CANE%3DFnh%3D1oZMAybOO0XAriGQ%3DT3%3DQK0wyKoCRvbQzJWTaridsQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Michelle Baker]

I love your cube system, Kate! We're planning to make a binder for our cake pans. Right now they're all in our catalog (no photos yet...) with some hanging on the wall and some in storage tubs in our shed. 

Most of our activity kits are in clear plastic backpacks. This makes it easy for patrons & staff to see what is inside & some kids love to wear them after checkout. 

Michelle Baker
Library Director, Gale Library
16 S Main Street, Newton, NH 03858
michell...@gmail.com

603-382-4691 -- www.galelibrary.org

 

Hours: Mon 12-6, Tue 9-1, Wed 12-8, Fri 9-3, Sat 9-1 (Closed Sun & Thu)

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nelib.org/d/msgid/nela-discussion-list/CA%2BNs0THpuLfU%3Dc37Gh8NHWhxFWU55ow3ZqzSJZb6NX_ejbQ%3DbA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Backman, Heather (BLC)]

We’re working with a library under construction that if I recall correctly is putting in an IKEA-type modular closet system in a nook to display their Library of Things (it’s an inexpensive way to install flexibly adjustable shelving – and they rent kayaks, so they need a bar to hang life jackets off of!).

 

I’ve also seen magnetic paint applied to a wall and magnets used to hang cards depicting the items available, with the items themselves stored out of the public area.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Heather Backman (she/her), MSI

Library Building Specialist

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

857-283-5668 (cell)  //  617-725-1860 x245 (office)

Need to talk with me? Click here to book a time on my calendar.

 

Recently I’ve read The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

 

You are awesome! Keep moving forward.

 

 

From: Wendy Hysko <wen...@brownelllibrary.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2025 12:07 PM
To: nela-discu...@nelib.org
Subject: [NELA] Display and storage of Library Things

 

CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system.  Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

 

--

[K. Richard]

One of my libraries has bakers racks. We have 2 in a public area and 2 in a closet, which is where the bigger stuff lives (such as giant connect 4). We will soon have a bunch of ice skates available, so we brainstormed ideas and came up with putting them in plastic bags which will then either hang on one of those racks you see used in retail stores when they're moving clothing, A few items live behind circ because they're more expensive or simply prone to be theft. 

My other library has a very small collection for now. Some items live in a closed space behind the reference desk. In the children's room, science backpacks and some other items are in a corner kinda haphazard. Other items are on a shelf nearby. I had previously shifted items so we were able to clear 2 shelves and all the backpacks and bookbags fit there, but this was changed a couple years ago. We also have American girl dolls that are stored in plastic totes and live in a closet behind our circ desk because they're so expensive. Our lawn games are in an area just outside the children's room that is just open space. We're continually looking for ways to improve.

Here are links to some pictures I took while preparing for a NELA conference last year. Two folders - one for each library.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FlVibdxZurR7PSR5bEDA8F7Qh7cIJgkH?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ORpwvhlQfbjMa1l5nDFUeragkIzXaYW8?usp=drive_link

Karen

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nelib.org/d/msgid/nela-discussion-list/MW4PR09MB96818119E29493A609DF87E786EEA%40MW4PR09MB9681.namprd09.prod.outlook.com.

--

Karen Richard

Technical Services Assistant

Minerva Cataloging Standards Committee member

Lithgow Public Library

45 Winthrop St.

Augusta, Me. 04330

207-626-2415