Rhinelander District Library is more than just books

Gone are the days of only going to the library looking to read a good book or work on a public computer. There is so much more to today’s library. It helps saying ring true, “If you haven’t been to the library lately, you haven’t been to the library!”

Whether it’s a need, such as a radon detector or Wi-Fi hotspot for homework, or something fun such as a puzzle or board game, the Library of Things at the Rhinelander District Library houses the unexpected for residents and library-goers. From seniors to the littlest of littles, the Library of Things likely has something for everyone to enjoy.

The children’s department of the Rhinelander District Library has puzzles, games and learning toys for kids of all ages. The library is so much more than books.
(Photo by Beckie Gaskill/Lakeland Times)

In the children’s department in the lower level of the Rhinelander District Library, families will find an entire section is packed with educational toys and games for kids of all ages. Families can try out board games such as Clue Jr., Monopoly Jr., and many other games before buying them to see if its something the kids will actually play. Puzzles just for kids are available, too, for those winter days when it is too cold to go outside, or the rainy summer vacation days. Teens even have their own special section of the Library of Things upstairs in the adult department.

There is literally no one in the family left out when it comes to the Library of Things. Cathy Oelrich is the curator of the Library of Things, an idea library director Virginia Roberts brought with her when she came to the Rhinelander library. An entire wall of puzzles, 400 in all, takes up one side of the Library of Things. Puzzles have become incredibly popular, with seasonal choices being checked out on the most regular basis, especially with the holidays here. A family can take a couple of hours, or even a weekend, to put together a puzzle together around the table. Putting together a puzzle is a great activity for groups that gather, or a sole puzzler looking to challenge themselves on a cold winter night.

“I started right after Covid,” Oelrich said. “And we used to have puzzles here for people to play. Of course, Covid changed all that, so we cataloged them all so we could circulate them out.” People started to ask if they could donate puzzles, which the library loved to hear.

Board games and card games are no longer small investments in many cases. Some of the board games available to check out in the Library of Things can cost nearly $100, and if the family does not enjoy the game, it sits on the shelf collecting dust. Checking out a game is a great way to learn what games are available, what a family or friend group will enjoy, and to find a new favorite. There area over 80 board games available for patrons. The games are popular year round, with many families checking out games over the holidays as people gather together.

“We had one gentlemen who checked out a game for Thanksgiving and came back and thanked us for the game,” she said. “He said the game made their Thanksgiving.”

While puzzles are a big draw, learning kits have their own attraction for many library visitors. From learning to play a ukulele to gazing into the night sky, there are tons of kits for adults, kids and families that can allow all to explore a new hobby.

“With the night sky kits, down in the children’s department we have kids telescopes so the littles can get involved without parents having to worry about them handling an expensive telescope,” Oelrich said. “Then, up here, in the adult department, we have bigger telescope for parents and older kids. That way the whole family can learn at the same time.”

Other outdoor kits are available, too such as a hiking kit. A bird watching kit is another poplar kit, as is the rock hounding kit. The wild flower kit includes a kit that includes a press to use in the microwave.

The Library of Things even includes summer outdoor games. Jenga, ladder golf and a giant Connect Four, as well as other games have been popular, Oelrich said. She even had two different wedding parties check out the summer games to play between the wedding and dinner or other events later in the day.

Hobby and crafting kits and accessories are available as well. For knitters and crocheters, for instance, a particular pattern may call for a size needle the crafter does not have and will likely not use again. Instead of buying the needle or crochet hook, they can simply be checked out from the library and returned when the project is done. Most of those items have been donated by other patrons or crafters who have retired from certain crafts. 

One of the board members of the library was a school district of Rhinelander library librarian. Two $800 sewing machines were purchased for a maker’s space, but had gone unused. The school district allowed the Rhinelander library to borrow the sewing machines, and later approved allowing those machines to remain in the Library of Things. 

Library patrons can also try out some different musical instruments to see if they are something they would like. Ukuleles, a guitar, an electric piano and an electric drum set are available for check out. One patron, Oelrich said, checked out a ukulele to see if he would like it. He wound up buying one of his own, and he and his wife made a large donation to the Library of Things, allowing the library to purchase even more kits and other items for patrons to check out.

Many of the how-to kits, and the ukuleles, Oelrich said, were purchased with a donation from the Women’s Club, as were the racks for the hundreds of puzzles.

The library also has a radon detector that can be checked out. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is something many families are worried about. A detector can be checked out and used in the home for two weeks to determine if there might be any issues.

Even laptops and wi-fi hot spots are available from the Library of Things. These can be perfect for people who live in an area without good internet access, especially for kids who might have a paper due for school and need that time of equipment at home.

Oelrich said she truly enjoys listening to people and families who are learning about the Library of Things for the first time. With so many different “learn how to” kits and other things now in the collection, there is always something new to learn more about, she said.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].