Summer is in full swing, and these hot, sunny days call for extra outdoor fun! Whether your favorite summer activity is playing basketball with friends or hanging out in a hammock with a good book, you're sure to find something of interest in Cromaine's Library of Things. The Library of Things offers a variety of games, musical instruments, tools, sports equipment, and more for free to Cromaine Library cardholders! Borrow whatever you need for your next picnic, beach day, barbeque, or lazy summer day. See the details below to learn about the best summer items available for borrow from the Library of Things, for every age group and every interest!
Yard Games
Entertain guests of all ages and abilities at your next barbecue, family reunion, or picnic. Play bean bag toss, Bocce ball, lawn bowling, or stack & tumble with yard games from the Library of Things! Whether you're planning a huge family gathering or just want to keep the family occupied for a weekend, these lawn games are fun and easy to use. Plus, keep beverages cool with a Coleman cooler, which can hold up to 250 pounds and keeps ice cool for up to five days in temperatures as high as 90° F!
Sports Equipment and Agility Sets
There's no need to buy sports equipment this summer! Access a huge variety of equipment from the Library of Things, including a portable pickleball set and basketball, soccer ball, soft training baseball, volleyball, gloves, and popup goals. Plus, borrow equipment to play lacrosse, mini golf, croquet, disc golf, and flag football!
For your little athletes, set up agility equipment to test their skills! Use an agility ladder, a balance beam set, a balance board, stepping stones, and speed hurdles to allow your little ones to learn coordination, speed, and balance through play.
Backpack Kits
Let the little ones engage with their world in a whole new way! Themed backpack kits encourage exploration, contemplation, and learning as they interact with the forest, the beach, or wherever you're headed this summer. Here are the kits available now!
- Beach Backpack Kit: Enjoy the beach with this set, which includes a variety of sand toy molds, a watering can, sand sifter, rake, shovels, a backpack explorer beach walk card set and a marine life specimen set!
- Bird Watching Backpack Kit: Learn about birds in our area with this kit of birdwatching supplies and backyard bird flashcards.
- Bugs Backpack Kit: Learn about bugs with this kit of sample bugs and exploring equipment, for outside use on real bugs!
- Nature Crafts Backpack Kit: Create nature art with this set of flower press, bug stencils, colored pencils, and activity book.
- Nature Exploration Backpack Kit: This kit is perfect to take to a local park and explore! It includes a backpack, binoculars, a find & seek scavenger hunt game and two books.
- Night Sky Backpack Kit: Learn about the night sky with this kit, which includes a guide to the night sky, a lunar telescope, and more!
In the Woods
Go for a hike and explore the sights and sounds of nature! The Library of Things offers items for advanced hikers and little explorers alike, so the whole family can enjoy time in the woods. Whether your favorite outdoor activity is biking, bird watching, or camping, we've got the equipment you need! Hikers can use trekking poles to make those inclines easier, and enjoy double or single hammocks after a long hike. For those who love mountain biking or a simple bike ride through the park, borrow a tire pump to keep you moving. Kids can use a hiking backpack (or, for those longer hikes or camping trips, a backpacking backpack), and the whole family can enjoy a scavenger hunt with the Library of Things geocaching kit! Plus, keep the exploration going with binoculars or a travel scope. The opportunities for fun and learning are endless!
Road Trips
Hit the highway with an extra layer of security! No matter where you're headed this summer, it feels good to know you're vehicle is ready for the trip. Borrow a car code reader to quickly and easily diagnose check engine issues. The Ancel AD310 reader offers a classic design to help you scan, read, and understand error codes. The Foxwell NT301 OBD2 reader offers useful information for entry-level pros and savvy DIYers that they can quickly and efficiently troubleshoot common problems on today's vehicles. Borrow a reader from the Library of Things and get your car in tip top shape for your long-distance drives this summer! Plus, make sure all of your electronics stay charged with the portable charger, and keep the kids entertained with a portable DVD player or a variety of books from the Cromaine shelves!
Cromaine Library is proud to offer the Hartland community more than just books! There are so many items available to enhance your summer fun, plus other items that can be used any time of year! See the full catalog of games, sports equipment, tools, musical instruments, and MORE at cromaine.org/things, or stop in and ask a Librarian for details! We're always excited to help you find what you're looking for. Enjoy these sunny, summer days!