A Library of Things?! Yep, it’s a thing! And it includes coding kits, Raspberry Pis, Tello Drones, Oculus Quest 2 kits, Legos, Keva Planks, Cue Robots, a video production kit, and MORE!

Littleton Public Schools’ library services specialist, Nick Schuster, has been working hard to streamline and revamp the district’s Library of Things over the past year after its creation in 2018. COVID put a huge damper on the momentum, so Mr. Schuster used that time to learn and tweak. The Library of Things boasts a centralized system that any LPS educator can access: they submit an online request, and the items are delivered! Each library item is barcoded, keeping track of its location at all times. 

The Library of Things provides students access to tools that might not be used enough to justify purchasing specifically for their school, or it might be a great way to sample some technology prior to purchasing it for the school. The Library of Things supports schools in additional ways, as well; for example, each school has a 3D printer, and the Library of Things provides the filament for print projects.

According to Mr. Schuster, “Libraries are so responsive to what kids need and what they want. They’re ever growing, ever changing, and we want to be as responsive as possible.” The Library of Things now contains a recording shield that was added as a result of students expressing interest in creating podcasts. 

While by its nature, the Library of Things is STEM-heavy, populations accessing these tools run the gamut from kindergarten through high school and beyond. One school used the breakout boxes, which are like portable escape rooms, for their back-to-school professional development.

Mr. Schuster is hoping to develop a space for teachers to share what they’re working on to inspire or inform other LPS educators, such as posting lesson plans and videos showcasing the use of various Library of Things items.

The Library of Things was initially funded cooperatively by the district’s IT and Library Services departments. Some items have been purchased using grant funds. Ideas for expanding the Library of Things’ catalog should be submitted to Mr. Schuster at nschuster[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us, and you can peruse the Library of Things website to learn more about what’s available to LPS staff and students!

(Photo is Mr. Schuster in the Library of Things' storage space)