The Joy of Borrowing

With inflation on the rise and many federal workers still recovering from the longest government shutdown in US history, the holidays this year are shaping up to be a major source of stress rather than joy.

As of September 2025, the US inflation rate stands at 3 percent, up from 2.3 percent in April, according to NerdWallet. While spending projections may look rosy on paper, in reality, consumers are “spending more and getting less” due to a number of factors, including skewed spending numbers resulting from the fluctuating tariff situation on international goods and services.

But did you know that many local libraries offer more than just books to borrow? The Library of Things is an important and free resource that allows the public to borrow everything from cooking and bakeware to game boxes and STEAM discovery kits for children — even furniture!

The Houston Public Library offers the Explore Collection, which allows patrons to reserve specific items for pickup by simply entering their MyLink Library card number and PIN. While these items are only on loan and do not replace the actual gift-giving experience, this resource can ease the financial strain of purchasing additional supplies for holiday entertainment when company comes.

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For instance, my husband and I hosted Thanksgiving this year at our house for six additional people. We don’t entertain often due to our limited living space; we don’t have many extra chairs or baking supplies. What is wonderful about the Library of Things is that if there is a need for specific molds and pans required only on a handful of occasions at certain times of the year, they can simply be borrowed and returned.

This has the added benefit of not only saving money — this Nordic Ware autumn treats pan in the HPL Library of Things currently retails for $32.40 on Amazon — but also saving space. Many of us with children are cleaning out our closets and cabinets ahead of the Christmas and holiday rush. It is inevitable that our well-meaning loved ones will shower us with “stuff” for our little and big ones, with predictably mixed results on practicality and usability. Not having a one-time-use bundt cake pan taking up valuable real estate and collecting dust is one less headache in the long run.

Multiple-player board games and activities can also serve the same purpose. We are a small family of three — my husband, my six-year-old daughter, and me. The handful of board games we own are for two to four players. With screen fatigue being a reality across the age spectrum, borrowed board games designed for larger groups can offer a grounded way to connect with family members and friends we may only see once or twice a year.

And we aren’t just talking about the classics like Scrabble. HPL, for instance, offers multiple copies of more contemporary hit games appropriate for various age levels, such as Really Loud Librarians (ages 8+) by Matthew Inman, author of The Oatmeal.

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Some libraries even let the public borrow furniture for that large festive dinner! The Rutherford Public Library in New Jersey loans out folding chairs, collapsible wagons, and even tables to patrons. When the average cost of high-quality folding chairs and tables is anywhere between $50 to $100, these savings add up fast. And the space-saving benefit of borrowing larger pieces of furniture—particularly for those in urban areas where apartment space is limited—cannot be overstated.

By borrowing from the library, we also support sustainability and community sharing. According to an article in The Georgetown Environmental Law Review, restructuring our economy with libraries at its core would allow for resource conservation that directly benefits the environment. “This would have a cascading positive effect on ecosystems, as less land is required for resource extraction and less chemical waste is created in the processes of creating plastics and other synthetic materials,” writes author Philip Vachon. The beauty of borrowing is that it offers society more opportunities for interaction with librarians and other community members, sparking real-time connections that could never be achieved by ordering online and having a package dropped on the doorstep.

Excited to get started? First, use the Library Finder to locate a library near you. Check their website or give them a call to see if a Library of Things is available. If you don’t have a library card, most branches require only a valid photo ID and proof of address, and an increasing number of locations — such as HPL — offer a digital option to apply.

Happy holidays, and happy borrowing!

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