Unusual Items You Can Get With A Library Card

With a library card, you can get a lot more than just books. City Cast Philly spoke with Christine Caputo, chief of youth services and programs at the Free Library of Philadelphia, about the unique finds and programming that Philadelphians can access with their card.

What's the coolest thing you can do with your library card that most people don't know about?

“One of the coolest things is our birding backpacks that you can borrow at several libraries. You get binoculars for adults and for kids, and you get a field guide with birds in it so you can identify what you're seeing. And you get a map of some of our local parks near the library where you borrow the kit from.”

What’s available at Free Library branches for music lovers?

“We have our jazz music library, a popular music library and the Smithsonian Global Sound. We have a collection of instruments that you can borrow at the Parkway Central Library. You can get a guitar, drums, a recorder, and all kinds of instruments, so you can learn to play or practice skills you already have.”

What kind of summer programming does the Library offer?

“Each year we have Summer of Wonder, our reading and learning program for kids, teens, and adults through August 11. Kids can earn stickers on our game board, and teens and adults can enter a raffle for reading books and attending activities. You can also participate online.”

Christine shares even more cool things to borrow and do at your local branch. [City Cast Philly 🎧]