Brooklyn now has a library where you can check out a crochet hook, a thermal laminator, or a button maker instead of a book. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) launched its first lending program for craft supplies on Wednesday, September 9, and the collection includes everything from linecut sets and woodworking tools to a nearly $400 Cricut Maker.
The BPL Craft Supply Library is a small but ambitious experiment in public access to creative tools. Instead of asking hobbyists to pay full price for equipment they might use once, the library offers 31 items for rent, free of charge. Patrons with an adult library card can take up to three craft kits and two craft tools home at a time, for either one or three weeks depending on the item.
What Can Be Borrowed
The collection covers a wide range of crafts, from fiber arts to digital fabrication. Here is a breakdown of what the library offers:
| Item Type | Examples | Loan Period |
|---|---|---|
| Craft kits | Linecut sets, woodworking apparatuses | 3 weeks |
| Craft tools | Crochet hooks, thermal laminators, button makers | 1 week |
| Special equipment | Fourth-edition Cricut Maker | Varies |
The Cricut Maker stands out as the star of the collection. It is a fourth-edition machine that can cut, etch, and engrave into hundreds of materials, and it carries a nearly $400 retail price tag. That makes it a substantial investment for anyone who wants to try digital fabrication but is not sure they will stick with it.
The kit category includes complete sets of materials for specific projects, while the tool category covers individual pieces of hardware. Patrons can mix and match, borrowing a few kits and a couple of tools at once.
How the Program Works
The lending rules are simple. Patrons with an adult library card can borrow up to three craft kits and two craft tools at a time. Kits are loaned for three weeks, and tools are loaned for one week. There is no charge for borrowing, which is the whole point of the program.
The program is designed to remove the barrier of upfront cost. As Jessica Harwick, the BPL librarian behind the project, told Hyperallergic, “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. This collection will help remove that barrier so that more people can explore their creativity and try new things.”
Fritzi Bodenheimer, a spokesperson for BPL, framed the program in personal terms. “All of us in New York are watching our budgets, and we have very limited storage,” she said. “You can take something out from the library without that financial investment.”
The Model Behind It
Harwick drew on the existing model for the BPL’s “Library of Things” when building the craft supply library. That program covers non-book materials that can be rented for free with a public library card. It includes David Bowie vinyls, culture passes to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and a Les Paul electric guitar.
The craft supply library follows the same pattern. It is another part of the library’s series of rental collections, which together make up the Library of Things. The craft collection adds a creative dimension to what was already a diverse set of offerings.
“It’s really a part of a trend,” Bodenheimer 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.”
Expanding the Collection
The library is actively looking to grow its holdings. Members of the public are encouraged to contribute gently used tools or supplies to the new project. Staff does not accept consumable materials such as yarn, paint, or glue, but they review possible donations on a case-by-case basis through a dedicated email address: craftsupplylibrary@bklynlibrary.org.
This crowdsourced approach is a practical way to build the collection without spending money on new purchases. It also connects the library to its community, turning patrons into donors and expanding the pool of available resources.
Where the Library Lives
The craft library has a new home. The BPL launched the program to coincide with the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Arts & Music space on the second floor of the Central Library on Grand Army Plaza. The redesign was done by Toshiko Mori Architects.
The space houses a teen center and the new Eastern Parkway Collection Wing, which is stocked with art and music books. The craft library is part of that redesigned space.
Why This Matters
The craft supply library addresses a real problem for hobbyists. Creative tools can be expensive, and trying a new craft often means committing to a purchase before you know if you enjoy it. The library removes that risk.
Patrons can borrow a crochet hook, test it out, and return it after three weeks. If they love it, they can keep borrowing. If not, they lose nothing. That is the barrier-breaking promise Harwick described.
The program also reflects a broader shift in how libraries operate. Libraries are moving beyond books to offer services that meet modern needs. Whether it is a guitar, a vinyl record, or a Cricut Maker, the idea is the same: provide access without requiring ownership.
The Trend
Bodenheimer noted that the craft library fits into a larger pattern. “A lot of people think a library is just books, but it’s a lot more,” she said. The craft supply library is one more example of that expansion.
The trend is toward treating libraries as community hubs with multiple functions. The BPL’s Library of Things already showed that. Now the craft supply library extends that logic to creative tools.
The Bottom Line
The Brooklyn Public Library’s craft supply library is a small but significant step forward. It offers a free, accessible way for people to try new crafts without breaking the bank.
The program is still young, and its success will depend on how it grows and how it is used. But the idea is sound. A library that lends tools is a library that serves its community in a new way.
For anyone in Brooklyn who has ever wanted to try knitting, wood carving, or digital fabrication but hesitated because of the cost, the answer is now on Grand Army Plaza. Just bring your library card.
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