About Metro Grows
Welcome to our first Library of Things collection - gardening tools!
Beginning gardener looking to plant some vegetables for the first time this spring? Advanced gardener who needs to upgrade their beds for the upcoming season? This brand-new program is perfect for any and all gardeners!
Metro Grows kicks off this spring thanks to a health literacy grant from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Studies. The funding brings the first collection to the "Library of Things" with various tools available for check out. Additional gardening workshops and events will be held to allow guests to learn how to use the tools and even raise their own backyard chickens!
Give us a call at 405-231-8650 or visit any of the eight (8) locations below to learn more and check out a set of gardening tools today!
- Almonte Library
- Belle Isle Library
- Capitol Hill Library
- Downtown Library
- Ralph Ellison Library
- Southern Oaks Library
- The Village Library
- Warr Acres Library
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A huge thank you goes out to Elia Woods with CommonWealth Urban Farms and Julia Laughlin with Oklahoma State University Extension for their vast tool knowledge and support in helping us select and fine tune our tool offerings. Another huge thank you goes out to LaTasha Timberlake with Lillian Timber Farms, Gabrielle Reyes with Black Soil Urban Farm, and Crystal Walker, the Compost Fairy, for creating demonstration videos for all our new tools! |
Events
TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR CHECKOUT
How-To Tool Video
Library Resources
Kitty and the Sky Garden Adventure
Plant, Sow, Make & Grow: Mud-tastic Activities for Budding Gardeners
Biscuit and Friends Visit the Community Garden
How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside
The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-by-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyone
¡Solo Pregunta!: Sé Diferente, Sé Valiente, Sé Tú
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden
Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Liberation on the Land
Year-Round Edible Gardening: Growing Vegetables and Herbs, Inside or Outside, In Every Season
Gardening Your Front Yard: Projects and Ideas for Big & Small Spaces
Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail PLans for Small Organic Gardens
How to Become a Gardener: Find Empowerment in Creating Your Own Food Security
Modern Container Gardening: How to Create a Stylish Small-Space Garden Anywhere
The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-by-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyone
Oklahoma Native Plants: A Guide to Designing Landscapes to Attract Birds and Butterflies
Frequently Asked Questions
A Library of Things is a collection of items for loan that expands the boundaries of traditionally defined library materials. It supports the "sharing economy" and the city's sustainability efforts, as guests sharing items means less waste. The collection also offers an opportunity to "try before you buy," to save money and test out something you might not have come across otherwise.
You must return the tools in person at a service desk at the library branch from which you borrowed it.
We will assess the lending of tools at our eight designated library branches starting in August 2023 and adapt the lending program as needed.
Tools are non-renewable. However, if you return tools to the library and there are other tools available to check out, staff can check your tools in and back out to you for another three (3) weeks.
Borrowed tools do not accrue late fines, but you are strongly encouraged to return these items in on time for others to enjoy!
You will not be responsible for damaged tools as we realize they are meant to be used and will experience wear and tear. We do ask that you treat the tools with care and if damage occurs, please let staff know when you return the tools.
You can download the Tool Care and Safety Tips sheet by clicking here.