Brooklyn Public Library Launches Craft Supply Lending

The Brooklyn Public Library officially launched its first-ever craft supply lending program on Wednesday, September 9. Patrons can now borrow 31 different items, including crochet hooks, thermal laminators, and button makers, at no charge.

Fritzi Bodenheimer, a spokesperson for BPL, told Hyperallergic that the program addresses budget and space constraints for New Yorkers. "All of us in New York are watching our budgets, and we have very limited storage," Bodenheimer said. "You can take something out from the library without that financial investment."

What's Available and How It Works

The collection is divided into two categories with different loan periods. Craft kits, which include items like linecut sets and woodworking apparatuses, can be borrowed for three weeks. Individual craft tools are available for one-week loans. An adult library card holder can take up to three kits and two tools at a time.

One of the most valuable items in the collection is a fourth-edition Cricut Maker, a machine that retails for nearly $400 and can cut, etch, and engrave various materials.

Removing Barriers to Creativity

Jessica Harwick, the BPL librarian who spearheaded the project, explained the program's goal is to lower the barrier to trying new creative hobbies. "Starting a new hobby or learning a new skill can mean a big investment in start-up tools or supplies, and often people don’t know if they’ll like the hobby," Harwick told Hyperallergic. "This collection will help remove that barrier so that more people can explore their creativity and try new things."

Harwick developed the idea by merging her personal creative interests with the library's existing "Library of Things" model. That broader program already allows patrons to borrow non-book items like David Bowie vinyl records, culture passes to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and a Les Paul electric guitar.

Expansion and a New Home

The craft library is actively seeking to grow its collection. The public is encouraged to donate gently used tools or supplies, though consumable materials like yarn, paint, or glue are not accepted. Potential donations can be proposed via email to craftsupplylibrary@bklynlibrary.org for case-by-case review.

The launch coincided with the opening of the newly renovated Arts & Music space on the second floor of the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. Designed by Toshiko Mori Architects, this space now houses the craft library, a teen center, and the Eastern Parkway Collection Wing for art and music books.

Bodenheimer sees the craft library as part of a broader evolution for public libraries. "It's really a part of a trend," she concluded. "A lot of people think a library is just books, but it's a lot more. The craft library is another part of that series."