TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Library is redefining what it means to “check something out.” Through its innovative “Library of Things” collection, patrons can borrow more than books but also tools to build lasting memories or accomplish goals. The items may be on loan, but the experiences last forever.
The Library of Things offers a variety of practical, recreational, and tech-based items for checkout. Want to get the most out of a trip to Gurnsey State Park, Glendo State Park, or Curt Gowdy? Need a laptop or Kindle for travel or schoolwork? Planning an outdoor movie night with an LCD projector and screen? Want to try out disc golf, check your blood pressure at home, or test a portable Wi-Fi hotspot before purchasing one? The Goshen County Library makes it all possible.
The collection includes technology such as laptops, Kindles (including Kindle Kids), portable DVD and CD players, Bluetooth speakers, LCD and Wi-Fi projectors, and both Verizon Orbic Speed and MIFI hotspots.
The collection also focuses on health, both with medical items that can help the community monitor their own health like blood pressure kit provided by the Wyoming Center on Aging, but also recreation equipment. They library offers tennis equipment that can be used at Jirdon Park. Disc golf discs are also available. Disc golf is a relatively new sport where plastic discs similar to frisbees are thrown towards baskets. Like ball golf, the goal is to get the disc in the basket in as few throws as possible. Torrington has disc golf courses at Eastern Wyoming College and at Pioneer Park. Both tennis and disc golf are sports that are both fun and accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels.
One of the most popular options is the outdoor exploration backpack, which comes equipped with a Wyoming State Parks pass, maps, and pocket guides to geology, weather, birds, trees, wildflowers, and wildlife. Each pack also includes a magnifying glass, binoculars, compass, bug box, and a “Leave No Trace” scavenger hunt card designed to help users of all ages explore and appreciate Wyoming’s parks and historic sites responsibly.
The program allows residents to try new hobbies, access useful tools, and experience the outdoors without the cost of ownership. By checking out a projector for a family movie night, a blood pressure monitor for health tracking, or a state park backpack for a weekend adventure, library patrons are discovering new ways to connect with learning and leisure through their local library.
To explore the full catalog of the Library of Things or reserve an item, visit the Goshen County Library or browse their catalog online.
