Unique Library Programs Show Evolution of Borrowing

FILLMORE COUNTY, MINN. — Libraries have become a place to lend experiences, tools, technology, outdoor access and educational resources. They are no longer just for borrowing books but have evolved into the Library of Things. 

From fishing poles to yard games to garden seeds, libraries are adapting to meet the needs of their communities. These nontraditional resources reflect how libraries are an important hub for every age. 

Borrowing items promote an affordable and community-driven sharing economy that helps reduce waste and provides access to rarely used items. 

Seven-day State Park pass available through the library’s pilot program with the DNR. (Photo by Laurie Byrne)

These changes include testing new projects such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program for library-based State Park passes. This pilot program is funded by the DNR, with at least one location per county. 

The purpose of lending DNR passes is to remove the financial barrier to park access. Chatfield was chosen in 2025 as the Fillmore County location for this three-year program and has two seven-day passes available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A wealth of area resources

The Southeastern region is fortunate to be part of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating system (SELCO) serving 35 public libraries in 11 counties (Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Freeborn, Goodhue, Steele, Wabasha, Houston and Winona). Being part of the SELCO system means that resources from other SELCO libraries can be requested through an interlibrary loan.

Need cake pans, binoculars or a crock pot? Ask the librarian if it is located at another SELCO library and they will request it! 

Libraries continue to be a wonderful place for children and their adults. Chatfield Public Library Librarian Christy Archer stated that she “values excitement over silence.”

Often, parents will meet up at the library with their kids in tow for a fun outing. Archer mentioned that the library has become popular with families from Rochester because it has close parking and is smaller and easier to navigate with a family. 

WhaZoodles, audio educational speakers for children, on display and ready to be taken home. (Photo by Laurie Byrne)

Through community grants, Chatfield’s library has expanded learning tools for children into interactive and screen-free devices such as the Yoto; Wonderbooks (physical print books with a built-in audiobook player); Tonieboxes (a padded, cube-shaped speaker with a Tonie figure – a character – placed on top of the box to activate a story); and WhaZoodles (audio educational speaker which is programmed with hours of themed topics presented in stories and podcasts). 

Some WonderBooks include comprehension questions. These books are good for early readers as they can follow along, building comprehension, fluency and vocabulary.

These tools are great alternatives to screen time, help children in literacy, comprehension and imagination. But the expense of each can be a barrier for many families, the library helps make these costly tools accessible to all children. 

Artwork hangs in the entry way stairwell, each tile created by children during the library’s summer program. (Photo by Laurie Byrne)

Child-centered programming includes Storytime held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Once school is out, the library hosts summer events on Fridays for four weeks in June and July. These events go beyond reading and include magic, animals, science and music. 

Archer said this program draws so many attendees they outgrew their space in the basement and now hold the programs at the bandshell at the city park. The Chatfield Center of the Arts provides alternate space in case of rain. 

Community gathering space

The library is also a place for doing, with year-round events including classes for painting, seed saving, kombucha making and jack-o-lantern carving. They offer two meeting spaces which are generally free to use – one upstairs in the historic library space and a larger room downstairs. 

And, similar to other areas libraries, patrons have use of computers, wifi, printing, scanning and faxing (some services carry nominal fees for use). Chatfield Library even has a local computer guru to help patrons as needed.

Small group public space for meetings or reading sits in the old section of the library surrounded by high ceilings and stained-glass windows. (Photo by Laurie Byrne)

The opportunities extend beyond the walls of the library. Also available for checking out, located on the tops of the bookshelves around the library, are STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) kits and yard games. 

Availability of the yard games – ladder toss, bocce ball and Jenga – is the result of community collaboration as the games were funded by the Chosen Valley Community Foundation during the pandemic as a way to get families to play outside together.

Yard games are popular in the summer with families and folks stopping by for Thursdays in the Park. (Photo by Laurie Byrne)

The library also houses a large assortment of puzzles available to borrow. Don’t like filling your kitchen table with a puzzle? Stop in and work on a puzzle at the library – they usually have one or two community puzzles going. 

Chatfield Library also joined the growing movement and started a seed library for local gardeners to share unused seeds or take seeds home to plant. 

Who helps the library provide such cool things?

Funding comes through grants from various sources including the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment from monies collected through the Minnesota sales tax. Four core funds provide grants for historic preservation, arts, parks, and conservation through the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, Parks and Trails Fund and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization, raises funds to support the library. The city of Chatfield also supports the library. Other funding organizations including the Chatfield Commercial Club, Choose Chatfield Alliance and The Chosen Valley Community Foundation, whose recent donation helped the library purchase Yoto players and adventure boxes. The foundation also enabled the Chatfield Alliance to purchase snowshoes, which are now available for borrowing at the library.

Librarians Archer and Monica Erickson both stated that the best way to support the library is to use it! Attend a program, borrow a state park pass, use the Libby app to listen to audiobooks. Every checked-out book, STEAM kit or Wonderbook helps demonstrate the continued value of public libraries. 

On Friday, June 5th, 2026, the library will host its Summer Kick Off with a ‘make your own ice cream sundaes’ event. 

The reading program offers a reading log, as well as weekly challenges. Students get points for weekly crafts and challenges, as well as for reading. The challenges are diverse, so that points are accessible to all students, even the non-readers. The library strives to make its space welcoming to all.

Check out special events, summer youth programs and more at your local library. Connect here with SELCO member libraries throughout Southeast Minnesota.