When was the last time you thought of your library as a place to borrow a basketball, projector or park pass?

Libraries across Waterloo Region have evolved far beyond books. Today, your library card can help you try a new hobby, plan a family outing, tackle a small home project, or enjoy a weekend adventure. All without buying something you may only use once.

In fact, the City of Waterloo encourages residents to “borrow instead of buy,” highlighting local libraries as a way to access everything from instruments and skates to seeds and other useful items.

Whether you’re a longtime library regular or haven’t visited since you were a kid, here are some of the surprisingly useful things you can borrow locally.

Waterloo Public Library: Your Library Card Has Some Serious Perks

Waterloo Public Library’s Cool Things to Borrow collection includes an impressive mix of entertainment, recreation, technology and outdoor gear.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Board games & puzzles – Perfect for a family game night without adding another box to the closet.
• Bike repair tool kits – Handy when your bike needs a little TLC.
• Bike locks – A useful option when you’re out exploring Waterloo by bike.
• Ice skates – Available year-round at the Eastside Branch and seasonally at McCormick Branch.
• Lawn games – Think outdoor fun without having to purchase your own set.
• LED Projectors – A great way to host an outdoor movie night.
• Nordic walking poles – Try them before investing in your own pair.
• Outdoor nature kits – Great for turning a walk in the woods into a mini adventure.
• Digital microscopes – For curious kids, budding scientists and anyone who likes to get a closer look.
• Air monitors – A surprisingly practical item for learning more about your home’s air quality.
• LED projectors – Ideal for movie nights, presentations or backyard entertainment.
• Nintendo Switch kits – A fun way to try gaming without purchasing a console.
• Wi-Fi hotspots – Useful when you need internet access on the go.
• Park passes – Borrow an Ontario Parks Day-Use Permit or Grand River Parks pass.
• Museum passes – Visit the Region of Waterloo Museums or THEMUSEUM with a library pass.

The park passes are particularly useful for summer adventures. Waterloo Public Library’s Grand River Parks pass provides access to 10 GRCA parks plus the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area for up to six people travelling together in one vehicle. Its Ontario Parks pass provides access to more than 100 provincial parks.

Kitchener Public Library: From Roller Skates to Musical Instruments

Kitchener Public Library has its own collection of Things to Check Out, and it is just as eclectic. The library currently lists everything from sports equipment and games to technology and museum passes.

You can find:

• Musical instruments – Available through the library’s instrument collection.
• Board games – More than 90 unique games are available, with up to three games borrowable per card.
• Video games – Games are available for a variety of gaming systems.
• Nintendo Switch Lite consoles – Available at all KPL locations for in-library use, along with Switch games.
• Wireless hotspots – Take your internet connection with you.
• Chromebooks – Available for one-week loans.
• Toys – A great option for families looking for something new to play with.
• Bike locks – Available at select community library locations.
• Roller skates – Available at Southwest Library in youth, junior and adult sizes.
• Sports equipment – Including basketballs, bocce, croquet sets and tennis racquets.
• Outdoor equipment – Perfect for getting outside without purchasing gear.
• Museum passes – Borrow passes for THEMUSEUM and Region of Waterloo Museums.
• Parks passes – A library card can help you access Grand River Parks and Ontario Parks.

KPL’s borrowing collection also includes more unusual items such as Jenga Giant, memory kits, device charging kits and Playaways.

For families, this is a particularly good way to test-drive something before buying it. Want to know if your kids will actually play a particular game? Borrow it first. Thinking about getting into roller skating? Try a pair from the library.

Cambridge Public Library: Useful & Unusual Things To Borrow

Cambridge’s public library system, Idea Exchange, takes the borrow-instead-of-buy concept seriously.

The Preston location is home to a Tool Library, Seed Library and Preston Community Garden.

Depending on the collection, Cambridge residents can find Unusual Things to Borrow such as:

• Garden and yard tools – A great option for occasional landscaping and gardening projects.
• Sports equipment – Items such as basketballs and hockey sticks have been part of the library’s lending collections.
• STEAM kits – Hands-on kits designed to encourage science, technology, engineering, art and math learning.
• Art and technology boxes – Fun options for creative projects and experimenting at home.
• Bug boxes – Turn backyard exploring into a learning activity.
• Music boxes – A playful way for kids to explore music.
• MathQuest PlaySmarts kits – Hands-on activities that make learning feel more like play.
• Seeds – The Seed Library makes it easier to try growing something new.
• Tools for outdoor projects – Past collections have included items such as pruning tools, edgers and leaf blowers.

Idea Exchange has specifically positioned these collections as a way for residents to try something before buying it, whether that’s a hobby, sport or piece of equipment.

Homeowner tip: Before purchasing a specialty tool for a one-time project, check whether your local library has something similar available to borrow.

Why Borrowing Instead of Buying Makes Sense

Beyond saving money, these collections offer another benefit: you don’t have to find a place to store everything.

That matters in any home, but especially in smaller homes, condos, apartments and busy family households where storage space comes at a premium.

Borrowing can also help you:

Try before you buy.
Not sure whether you’ll actually use a projector, game, sports equipment or outdoor gear? Test it first.

Reduce clutter.
Why dedicate permanent storage space to something you might use twice a year?

Try new hobbies.
Want to experiment with birdwatching, skating, gardening, gaming or a new instrument? Your library may be the perfect place to start.

Create affordable family activities.
A library card can turn an ordinary weekend into a game night, park adventure, museum visit or backyard activity.

Make better use of your community.
The idea behind these collections is simple: not everyone needs to own everything.

Your Library Card Is Basically a Community Membership

The next time you head to the library, don’t just browse the bookshelves.

Search the catalogue for “Cool Things,” “Library of Things,” “passes,” “games” or specific equipment. Collections can change, and availability varies by location, so it’s always worth checking before heading out.

See each library’s online catalogue here
Waterloo | Kitchener | Cambridge

And if you’re a Waterloo Region resident, don’t assume you’re limited to just one library system. Kitchener Public Library notes that free library cards are available across the Region through reciprocal borrowing arrangements, including Waterloo Public Library and Idea Exchange in Cambridge.

So, before you buy that new board game, specialty tool, sports set or outdoor pass, check your library first.

You might already have access to it.