Banff Lending Library

Actions as a result of survey results

The survey indicated that there is a high amount of interest in the community for a lending program (see the survey results on the right)

1. The Town of Banff has partnered with the Banff Public Library to develop a pilot program for lending items, called a Library of Things.
2. The pilot program is scheduled to run October to December 2021.
3. This program is for Banff residents only.

While many supported a pay model and a majority believed that a $40 annual fee would be an appropriate cost, there were still many respondents who believed that a cost-based lending program would be too expensive to participate.

1. The lending program will pilot as a free service.
2. Staff and coordinators of the program will track usage, returns, damage and loss of items over the three-month pilot period (Oct.-Dec.) to determine if a cost-based model is required.

Large items such as a ladder and canoe/kayak/paddle board were submitted as items respondents would be interested in seeing at the lending program.

1. The space provided for the lending program in the library is relatively small and cannot accommodate oversized items – The Town and Banff Public Library will seek options and space for future additions of larger items over the course of the pilot.

Hours of operation, accessibility and ease of borrowing items were significant factors that could prevent respondents from using the lending program.

1. Partnership with the Banff Public Library will allow for daily access to the lending program, is in a central location and will allow users to check out items using the same system as their regular collections to make the lending program as accessible as possible.
2. There will be an online inventory of items available through the library’s Marigold catalogue system for users to place holds and browse items remotely.

Respondents indicated concerns about knowledge of how to properly use the tools, and were interested in workshops to better understand how to use items from the lending program.

1. The library will curate a collection of reading material related to the lending program items to assist users with ideas and information on how to use items.
2. Manuals and guides will be available for items that require them.
3. Workshops will be considered during the pilot, conditional on seeking space that would allow for workshops to take place.

Many respondents indicated that lessening their impact on the environment would be a significant reason to joining the lending program. There was also an interest from multiple respondents in donating items to the lending program.

1. The lending program will prioritize sourcing items through donations to sustainably populate the program. Donated items allows the pilot to provide a free service.

2021 Project Timeline:

• January - May: Program planning and seeking partnership opportunities and space
• May - June: Residential input through online survey
• July: Space development and inventory acquisition
• August - September: Final survey results and pilot lending program launch
• October: pilot lending program launch, examination of potential programming connected to a lending program such as training workshops, repair/fixit sessions, community events (sewing tutorials, bike maintenance workshops, etc.)
• October-December: Evaluation of pilot and next steps