Are you counting the days until you can dig in your garden, tackle those springtime chores, and add a little seasonal fun to your life? You are not alone. You are also not alone if you are fretting about the cost or worried about where you will store all these new supplies. Chances are, you do not have to. If you need a tent, a sewing machine, a piece of art, a circular saw, or a toy train set, Ottawa has a library that can help. Here are some of the best lending libraries in the city.
Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library
Want to spend more time outdoors this spring, but are blanching at the cost of supplies? You can borrow what you need from the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library, which is dedicated to making the outdoors more accessible and welcoming. From camping gear to sports equipment, this library has you covered for all your outdoor adventures.
The Dementia Society Lending Library
Many health care organizations offer their clients specialized equipment loans to help offset costs. Perhaps the most unique example of this is the Dementia Society's Lending Library. They lend an assortment of activity packages, companion toys and dolls, technology, and other items designed to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library
Eager to make this year your garden's best? The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will make it happen. This grassroots organization promotes gardening with native plants, hosts seed-and-plant giveaway events each year, and offers a wealth of online information and resources to help you cultivate a beautiful and eco-friendly garden.
Art Lending of Ottawa
Eager to change up your space? Art Lending of Ottawa will help you do just that, at an incredibly low price. You can browse their collection online, make your selection, and pick it up at their next art show, or simply pop by the art show to see what inspires you. Lending terms start at three months, and if you fall in love with a piece, you can lease-to-own. Leslie Firth, co-chair of Art Lending's board, praises the organization's commitment to making art accessible for everyone, including children. She says: "If parents are thinking 'how can I add another dimension to my child's life?' Well, art is a perfect one and it is so easy to do and we make it easy at Art Lending." Their next art show is Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre (1265 Walkley Road).
Ottawa Tool Library
Who do you turn to when you need a circular saw, a power washer, and an ice cream machine? The Ottawa Tool Library has you covered. They have everything you can possibly need for a springtime DIY project, from hedge trimmers to car wash brushes. Bettina Vollmerhausen, the Tool Library's co-founder, emphasizes that you do not need to be handy to use the Tool Library. A team of "Tool Wizards" are on hand to help patrons. She says: "They are people who know how to use tools, from the trades, retired, engineering students. They really know their stuff." And more often than not, the Tool Wizards tell people what they do not need and redirect them to a more appropriate choice.
