What is in the GPL Library of Things?

What is in the GPL Library of Things? A lot!

GPL has a variety of items that can be borrowed, and our collection is growing! Some items (Mobile Hotspots and Technology Kits) can be taken out for two (2) weeks. (These items usually have a waiting list so we ask they be returned on time.) Other items can be borrowed for three (3) weeks. To borrow an item from the Library of Things, you must have a valid CWMARS library card in permanent status and be in good standing with the library. Some kits have age restrictions on them.

When you borrow an item, we ask it be returned to the desk where you got it. Please do not put items from our Library of Things in the bookdrops as they can be damaged.

At the Information Services Desk:

• Mobile Hotspots* (18+ only, click the link for the waiting list)
• Technology Kits* (18+ only, click the link for the waiting list)
• Blood Pressure Cuffs
• Knitting Needles
• Kill-a-Watt Monitors
• Learn to Knit Kits
• Soil Health Test Kits
• Fishing Kits (seasonal; 15+)

At the Main Desk:

• Ukuleles

From the Teen Room:

• Bike Locks
• Nintendo Switch (in-library use only)
• Meta Quest 2 VR (in-library use only)

From the Children's Room:

• Nintendo Switch (in-library use only)
• Knitting Needles

*These items circulate for 2 weeks rather than 3 (1 week with an automatic renewal).

GPL Seed Library

The mission of the GPL Seed Library is to provide free access to seeds for home gardeners of all levels to grow their own food and learn about sustainable gardening, food security, and healthy eating. The Seed Library will provide seeds for vegetables, flowers, and herbs with a preference for open-pollinated, non-gmo, heirloom, organic seeds which help encourage biodiversity and sustainable gardening and will encourage gardeners to donate seeds to the GPL to help support the sustainability of the Seed Library.

Borrowing Guidelines:

• Gardeners will be asked to register in the GPL Seed Library Registration Binder.
• Gardeners may borrow up to 5 types of seeds, 4 different vegetables and 1 herb or flower (due to limited availability), or 5 different vegetables total, per season.
• Gardeners will record the types of seeds they borrow in the log book with the following information:
  • Name of the vegetable, herb, or flower
  • Date borrowed
• Limits: Gardeners may borrow up to a small scoop of seeds per variety, or a 'pinch' if the seeds are small, such as carrot, parsnip, and radish seeds.

Seed-saving Donation Guidelines:

• Gardeners are encouraged to allow some of their crop to go to seed so that the GPL Seed Library can continue to 'grow'
• Seeds should be dry and clean and should be open-pollinated, non-gmo, heirloom, organic varieties from healthy plants
• Seeds that are 'returned' to the library need to be labeled with (minimum details):
  • Common name
  • Variety name
  • Year harvested
• Extra details to include:
  • Town where your garden is located and the plants were grown
  • How long it takes to grow
  • Uses (ex. soup, dry, or shelling bean)
  • Growth habit (ex. bush/pole or determinate/indeterminate)
  • Description
  • Planting instructions

Definitions:

Heirloom: non-gmo open-pollinated seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation https://www.burpee.com/blog/should-you-grow-heirloom-seeds.html

Plant genetics:

Open-pollinated: plants that are pollinated naturally without human intervention that results in seeds that will be produced are “true to type” or exhibit the same traits as the parent plant.

Cross pollination: pollination of a plant with pollen from another flower or plant

Organic: avoid using synthetic chemicals in your garden; use compost, natural soils, organic fertilizers, and organic pesticides

Hybrid: a cross between two varieties of plants of the same species created by depositing the pollen of one variety onto the stigma of a different variety.

Patented: A plant patent is granted by the United States government to an inventor (or the inventor's heirs or assigns) who has invented or discovered and asexually reproduced a distinct and new variety of plant, other than a tuber propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state. https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/apply/plant-patent