The Boyne Regional Library in Carman has received two custom-built storage units this month that were generously funded by the Carman Area Foundation. The cabinets solved many problems the library had with storing and organizing products and resources for their drop-in Lego Club, Boyne Grows Seed Library, and other children’s programs.
The Boyne Grows Seed Library is relatively new to the library and allows members to “check out” or “borrow” seeds from the seed library for free. Members then plant the seeds, grow the plants, and let some of those plants go to seed. Seeds are then collected, dried, cleaned, labelled and returned to the library for use by members the following year.
“The goal of the free seed lending library is to increase the capacity of our community to feed itself wholesome food by means of equitable access to seeds, and to provide education and programming that fosters community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing,” said Lynsey Hannah of the Boyne Regional Library. “It also works to increase community members’ engagement with our food system and overall self-sufficiency. Through the Boyne Grows Seed Library, we aim to grow a robust local food system with increased food production and food security across Carman and the surrounding areas.”
The seed library cart that the Carman Area Foundation funded provides much-needed solutions to organizing seeds and other gardening resources. There is a place to display information and a seed return drawer. The spacious drawers have custom and adjustable dividers that will meet the long-term needs of the seed library.
“We can now also organize seeds to make the borrowing and storing much more efficient,” said Hannah. Along with the library staff, a great volunteer group helps keep the seed library growing.
“We are so very thankful to everyone who has become members of the Boyne Grows Seed Library,” she said.
In addition to the seed library cart, the Carman Area Foundation also funded a storage cabinet for children’s programming, including the Lego Club. This cabinet is in the Children’s Library and holds the library’s Lego in organized bins and other programming items for children and youth.
“Prior to this cabinet, the Lego and other children’s items used for programming were stored in the second-floor storage room,” said Hannah. “The Lego was also stored in large deep bins, making access to the many pieces difficult for children. Having the cabinet within the Children’s Library makes it easier for our staff to provide the program, and allows children much easier access to all the Lego that they want to build with. There is smaller, more shallow, storage bins inside the cabinet that increase access for children and families.”
The Boyne Regional Library provides its drop-in Lego Club on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dates can be found on the website or in the library. The library also provides programming that compliments the Boyne Grows Seed Library. It encourages everyone to follow its social media accounts and visit its website often to learn about what is offered.
“We are currently accepting donations of seeds and want to remind our community that we have grow kits and grow lights available to check out for free from the library with a membership.”
The Boyne Regional Library would like to thank the Carman Area Foundation for supporting the library by funding the Boyne Grows Seed Library cart and the Lego cabinet.
“We hope the community stops by to make use of them or just to admire them. They are beautiful and essential to our programming.”
