A six-person tent with rainfly costs more than $100.

At the Memphis Public Libraries, the tent, plus two battery-powered headlamps, LED lanterns — even a broom and dustpan — are free for a three-week checkout, part of the Joy Collection in the Library of Things the system unveiled early this week.

Two tent kits had been checked out by Wednesday, Aug. 16, along with backyard movie-night kits and karaoke equipment that comes with a disco ball. All the whimsy is now listed in the library’s electronic card catalog.

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Sitting back with a smile is Anthony Lucatelli, the young librarian/customer service assistant at the Benjamin L. Hooks branch who poured his energy into bringing the project to life.

“I’m excited about people being able to try things that they weren’t able to try because there was some kind of financial barrier. … I’m excited for people to try things they hadn’t thought to try, like growing a butterfly in a little mesh cage or nurturing a caterpillar all the way through its stages of life,” he says.

“As long as you are library customer with a library card in good standing and over 18 years of age, you can check out a camping kit,” Lucatelli said.

The library reserved $7,550 for the project, now in the test stage, and used the money essentially for the purchases, including four yard-game kits with cornhole and boccie ball.

The project was funded by the Memphis Library Foundation, which before the pandemic asked librarians once a year to submit ideas for projects, usually to little avail, said Lawson Arney, board chairman.

“This idea is probably one of the most exciting ones I think I’ve seen.”

Library leaders asked to change the system in the pandemic because it was so hard to plan ahead, says foundation executive director Christine Weinreich.

“We’ve worked, over time, to ensure that all staffers know that MLF is to serve and support them. In our first quarter this year, we received a record 30 requests.”

The outdoor movie night strikes Arney as an excellent reason to have a gathering.

“And then, we could do a karaoke night a month later, and then a yard game a month after that,” he says, planning his family’s fall calendar.

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Each kit is packaged in a pouch or backpack with a barcode, scanned at checkout like a book.

Three of each kit are available at the central library, 3030 Poplar; one of each is at the Bartlett branch, 5884 Stage Road, during the test period.

The kits and their contents are described on the Memphis Public Libraries site. 

Patrons pick up a laminated card in a display in the lobby for the kit they want to check out and take it to the information counter. The kits may be reserved by calling the library branch. Items must be returned to the branch in which they were checked out.

For the next several months, library staff will monitor the rate of usage and, at the same time, take suggestions for other items on the Library of Things landing page and in an upcoming newsletter.

“I’m excited about people being able to try things that they weren’t able to try because there was some kind of financial barrier.”

Anthony Lucatelli
Librarian/customer service assistant at the Benjamin L. Hooks branch

“We’re looking to see what is the most popular, what is the most feasible,” Lucatelli said. “We know that some of these items are easily damaged or parts can go missing, so we’ll also looking at the viability and whether people will bring them back in one piece.”

He promises that cake pans will be in the expanded program.

“Different collections are going to be specific for different branches because different communities are going to need and want different things,” he said.

“We are eventually thinking of making books lists to go with each kit.”

Libraries around the nation have been loaning objects other than books for years. In the 1990s, Memphis started with tools, and over time added ukeleles, dulcimers, guitars, kits for improving memory, even yoga mats.

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The library in Frayser, 3712 Argonne Street, offers guitar lessons and guitar loans.

The Library of Things now encompasses all the one-offs, including the tools, still available for loan at the North branch, 1192 Vollintine.

Lucatelli channeled his forces when the Nashville Public Library launched its Library of Things in early February.

“It has been immensely popular,” said Ed Brown, library spokesman there. “Within the first week of our launch, it was ‘sold out,’ in the sense that people would come in and check everything out. We had an immense hold list — some items would have more than 100 people on the wait list. I mean, it exploded in popularity.”

Things have settled down in the meantime, he said, but still half of the 47 items for loan in Nashville — including a pickleball set and electric ice cream-maker — are consistently checked out.

The Nashville system has not noticed an uptick in the number of library cards it issues, but it’s hard to miss the positive comments on social media, Brown said.

Nashville charges for items returned in condition beyond repair. Patrons sign waivers, saying they understand the conditions of the loan.

“That’s the worst-case scenario, and to date, I have yet to hear of that having to go forward. Typically, folks are very respectful. They bring these things back in very good condition.”

Libraries, Weinreich said, have always stood for equal access to information and education.

“Libraries across the country are reimagining the resources available for checkout. As one of the nation’s most innovative libraries, MPL is no exception,” she said noting that foundation has provided funding from private donors for musical instruments and wi-fi hotspots for checkout.

“The Joy Collection is the next step in the expansion of items, offering equitable access to a selection of items that that facilitate fun and create joy.”