Borrow don’t buy – Noosa Libraries launches Library of Things

Published on 25 February 2026

Picture of the Library of Things launch event

A new door to a world of unexpected, hands-on and practical items has been opened at Noosa Libraries. 

From podcasting kits and telescopes to hiking poles, coding tools, photography gear, pickleball sets and more – the new ‘Library of Things’ collection is now offering Noosa residents more than 40 unique items they can borrow just like a book. 

Mayor Frank Wilkie said the initiative is yet another way Noosa Libraries adds enormous value to our community. 

“Noosa Libraries has more than 200,000 loanable items and the ‘Library of Things’ takes that even further by providing our community access to new useful, fun and sometimes surprising items that support creativity, exploration and sustainable living,” Mayor Wilkie said.

“We’re a community of library lovers, with more than half of the Noosa Shire holding a Noosa Libraries membership – which is well above the state average. So this fantastic new suite of items which are now available to borrow are sure to be very well utilised by our residents.

“The Library of Things is part of Council’s broader commitment to reducing waste, encouraging reuse and supporting sustainable community behaviours. By borrowing instead of buying, residents can reduce clutter, save money and help minimise the environmental impact of single use or seldom used items.”

The ‘Library of Things’ collection includes 43 items which are all available for a three week loan, with two items per customer. The collection is designed to support residents and visitors alike, whether they’re experimenting with a new hobby, testing equipment before buying, or simply borrowing something they only need once.

New items for loan include:
  • Creative and tech gear: Podcasting kits, vlogger kits, Wacom drawing tablets, GoPro and Canon cameras, portable audio recorders, VR Merge Cube, product photography kits.
  • STEM and kids’ exploration tools: Sphero coding kits, LittleBits kits, portable microscopes, binocular and compass packs.
  • Outdoor and adventure items: Hiking poles, telescopes, beach kits, camping lanterns, solar chargers, metal detectors.
  • Home and lifestyle tools: Picture hanging kits, home energy efficiency kits, portable projectors, accessibility keyboard and mouse, blood pressure monitors.
  • Recreation and entertainment: Karaoke speakers, pickleball sets, portable JBL speakers, PA systems.

Each item comes with safe use guidelines and manufacturer instructions, ensuring borrowers can confidently get started.

Peregian Digital Hub Program Officer Deidre Marczynski said the new collection is great news for local creative industries, entrepreneurs and startups as well as locals who want to explore digital skills and creative pursuits.

“At the Digital Hub we’ve noticed an increase in the number of people exploring content creation, digital marketing, podcasting, coding and graphic design in order to grow an audience for or promote their business, or build a tribe around a passion of theirs,” Ms Marczynski said.

“The Library of Things initiative provides a great opportunity for our community to try out some great tech gear rather than having to buy it - so there’s no excuse for anyone not to get started!”

To see the full list of items you can loan through ‘Library of Things, visit the Noosa Libraries website.

Collections Librarian, Patricia Stahl, discusses the new Library of Things collection:

Tagged as:
Back to top