What is the Library of Things? It’s all the stuff you can borrow from the library outside of our traditional collection of published media. You know you can get books, movies, and music from the library, but did you know you can also borrow:

11 librarians smiling and holding musical instruments

Mobile WiFi Hotspots

Hotspots grants Internet access wherever you can receive a cell signal. Hotspots may be borrowed for 3 weeks and can be renewed once. Learn more about borrowing our hotspots.

Museum Passes

Our museum passes grant free or reduced admission to many local museums, historic sites, and other attractions. Most of our museum passes are physical items that must be borrowed from the library, but the passes for some museums work differently–details are listed in the library catalog. Physical museum passes circulate for 2 days and must be returned directly to Forbes. When available museum passes can be reserved for up to 4 hours in advance by calling 413-587-1011.

Check the catalog for museum pass availability

Musical Instruments

Forbes Library has a great collection of musical instruments, including ukuleles, guitars, violins, theremins and concertinas. Musical instruments circulate for three weeks and can be renewed once.

You may only borrow one musical instrument at a time.

See our musical instruments in the catalog

Games and Puzzles

Board games and jigsaw puzzles circulate just like books!

See our games in the catalog

See our jigsaw puzzles in the catalog

We also have a separate collection of puzzles for children

E-Readers

We loan Kindles and other e-readers, perfect for reading while traveling or trying out an e-reader for the first time

See our e-readers in the catalog

Seeds

413 Seeds is an informal way for you to get free vegetable, herb, and flower seed packets, learn about gardening, and share your garden with your community by harvesting and sharing seeds. 

Learn more about 413 Free Seeds

Tools, Art Supplies, and Other Fun Stuff

Our Library of Things is always growing. We have knitting kits, a flower press, magnifiers, and much more.

See everything in our Library of Things in the catalog