Do you want to go camping or hiking in the Shenandoah Valley? Maybe you have never camped before or want to get your family outside but are unsure if they will enjoy it. How do you know where to go, what you need, and what it will cost?
Virginia has awesome local and state parks, as well as Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forests. What more could you want? Ahh…a tent, sleeping bag, walking poles, equipment for cooking outside, backpacks, et cetera! For users of the Massanutten Regional Library (MRL), that isn’t a problem. Library cardholders can borrow most of what is needed right from our Community Gear Library (CGL) at Central Library and take a class on what to do with it.
In Harrisonburg, Virginia, Massanutten Regional Library has partnered with Community Gear Library to provide access to outdoor gear through its library system. With this partnership, MRL patrons can now borrow camping kits, tents, cookstoves, hiking poles, backpacks, child carriers, and many other items using their library cards.
CGL’s mission is to be a resource in the Shenandoah Valley and increase access to the outdoors for all members of our diverse community by providing information and gear. MRL’s mission is to be an engaged community partner, offering programs and services that bring people together, foster creativity, and encourage lifelong learning. As CGL sought a way to circulate the gear, MRL’s Library of Things made perfect sense, and their mission paved the way for everything to fall into place. Items may also pair well with the Nature Backpacks sponsored by the Library of Virginia, which contain a free Virginia State Park pass.
Nestled in the back of the library on multiple shelves, the gear is stored and ready for patrons to borrow. When the Community Gear Library first “opened” on August 30, 2023, there were three Family Camping Kits. These kits hold everything a “family” of four needs for a weekend of car camping. There is a four-person tent, four sleeping bags, four sleeping pads, a two-burner stove, four headlamps, and a cooking kit with pots, pans, plates, cups, and silverware. The collection of camping gear has grown to include individual items available to borrow and can equip over 25 people at a time to go camping. There is even a “lookbook” located at the circulation desk that allows you to see what items are available.
Through grants from Sentara and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, CGL has been able to purchase new equipment, and the majority of the gear is “outfitter” grade and made for high usage.
The partnership between MRL and CGL is mutually beneficial. MRL handles cataloging, storing, and the check-in/check-out process. CGL finds funding, purchases gear, cleans/maintains the gear, and teaches patrons how to use it all. Together, they can achieve a goal that they could not achieve without each other. This summer, we even held a joint story time session to spread the word about the Gear Library and encourage families to get outdoors.
The future looks bright for Massanutten Regional Library and Community Gear Library, with a year under their belts and plans for expansion. You only need to have a valid MRL card and to attend an information session (in person at the library or over Zoom) to sign a waiver…then you could be heading for the hills! The outdoors is calling you, and CGL can get you geared up and ready to go.
–Zach Elder, Director, Massanutten Regional Library & Harriet Flynn, Co-Founder, Community Gear Library
