As of this semester, OU students, faculty and staff now have access to a non-traditional set of library resources, including a sewing machine, binoculars, power tools, lawn games and even specialized muffin tins.

All of these items and more are housed in the Library of Things, an innovative new collection officially launched Sept. 3 at Kresge Library. The collection is designed to give campus community members access to practical and recreational items for entertainment and education purposes.

Associate Dean of University Libraries Beth Wallis said the idea for the initiative first took root in 2023 after she attended a Michigan Academic Library Association conference where several colleges presented their experiences with similar programs.

“I thought, the time is ripe for this,” Wallis said. “We’re trying really hard to engage with students in different ways. The Library of Things is just one more way to do that.”

Funding for the project came through an endowment from Oakland University alumnae Elizabeth Smith and Susan Ritchie, both retired educators.

“They are the donors who made it all possible,” Wallis said. “They came for a tour of the library in the summer of ’24 and were thinking about making a donation to the university. They really loved the idea of this Library of Things, and they created an endowment.”

Wallis said the gift reflects the library’s mission to increase affordability and access. The library already leads campus efforts to reduce textbook costs through its Affordable Course Materials Initiative, which helps professors adopt low-cost or open-access resources.

The contents of the Library of Things trend toward practical items such as portable recreation gear, household appliances and technology. Beyond tools and bakeware, students can borrow a projector, light therapy lamp, bocce ball sets and cornhole boards, among other items.

“The idea behind these is students may not want to buy them,” Wallis said. “They may not want to have to store them because they’re not using them that often. So this is just yet another way that we want to provide positive experiences for students and help get them through college in an affordable and fun way.”

Just as for traditional library materials, the new collection’s checkout process is convenient and straightforward. Students, staff and faculty may simply present their Grizz ID at the service desk to check the items out. Each item is housed in a sturdy package labeled with an inventory sheet, ensuring borrowers know exactly what should be returned. Checkouts are renewable if no one else is waiting for them.

“My favorite thing is that we got muffin tins that are shaped like grizzly heads because we’re the Golden Grizzlies,” Wallis said. “But people get really excited about the power tools and the sewing machine.”

The initial response at the library’s annual Student Success Open House was promising. “We planned for 300 students to come and do a sort of self-guided tour, almost a treasure hunt in the library,” Wallis said. “After the Writing Center, they stopped by and learned about the Library of Things, and then they learned about the Makerspace. At the end, they got to talk to the librarians and get free pizza.”

The Makerspace, located within Kresge Library, predates the Library of Things but shares a similar philosophy. First opened nearly a decade ago, pandemic-related closure and staffing issues were resolved by spring 2025, leading to a reopening in March.

“There’s some interesting synergy,” Wallis said. “Students were like, ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to learn how to sew. Is there a place where I can learn how to do that?’ And I directed them to the Makerspace. They could practice there and then check out the sewing machine from the Library of Things.”

Wallis emphasized that the collection is intended to grow, and student input will help to determine future additions. The Library of Things website includes a form where community members can make suggestions about what items they would like to see added to the collection.

“One thing I really hope is that students will give us their feedback about what they’d like to see,” she said. “What I would love is for students to want to have access to these kinds of materials so much that we need to add more. That’s what I hope for the most.”