In addition to books and movies, Bowen Islanders are now able to borrow walkers, crutches and other assorted medical equipment from the library. It is running the 'med shed' formerly known as the community lending cupboard that was previously administrated by Adrienne Lawson and Massoud Najare.
When Lawson and Najare put out a call to the community to find someone to take over this service, Tina Nielsen, chief librarian of the Bowen Island Municipal Library, thought that it would be a good fit for the library. "We lend things, we track them, we keep records and we do it for free," she said.
"As wonderful as it is for someone to run a service like this out of their home, it can be a bit awkward because people need to go to someone's private space and interrupt the day. They'd have to make an appointment and find a time that was convenient to both pick up and drop off material," Nielsen said. "I thought it made sense for the library to take it on because it is a public building and everyone already knows what the hours are."
Nielsen spoke to the library board as well as staff and, when her proposal found support, contacted Lawson. "The main issue was the space and how much time it was going to take," Nielsen said. "I spoke to Adrienne and said if we can make room in one of the sheds and the equipment will fit there, we'll try to make it work."
After Lawson looked at the shed and confirmed that the space was sufficient, Nielsen asked community members for help getting it ready. "The roof needed to be replaced and the shed needed some plywood in the walls and a ramp in the front," she said.
Nielsen contacted Gary Charrette, who had re-roofed the second library shed. "I asked him what it would cost to put a new roof on and he said he would do the work for free if we could help him pay for the material," Nielsen said. "It turned out that the lending cupboard had some funds because some people had donated money over the years."
Nielsen explained that lending the equipment has always been a free service but occasionally someone felt compelled to make a donation. "There was some money in a bank account and Adrienne and Massoud agreed that it would be appropriate to use some of it to fix the shed."
The roofing material was bought and Charrette donated his work. When Nielsen approached Ian Thomson to install plywood in the shed to put up hooks and shelving, she had a similar experience. Thomson donated his time and only asked for compensation for the material.
Now the medical equipment has found a new home in the shed. Lawson and Najare had taken over the lending cupboard when they bought the house from Dolores Wallace who had started the service with Moira Greaven in the 1980s. But now, after five and a half years of operating it, the couple is moving back to Ontario for health reasons.
To Nielsen, taking over the lending cupboard made sense for the library. "We try to make the community a better place to live whether it's through life-long learning or medical equipment, we'll do whatever it is that serves the community in that way. Our plan is to eventually have everything in the computer so it is barcoded and labeled and you could look up in our database what is available."
One concern Nielsen had was the fact that the additional task would impinging on the already understaffed service but she hopes to train extra volunteers. Nielsen said that she has looked at examples where libraries have branched out to lend other materials than books. "There are other libraries around the world that lend things like equipment. There is an example where a library has a technology workshop where they don't lend the equipment but teach how to use it," she said. "Libraries are looking at ways to serve communities with more things than just books on the shelves."
Nielsen said that in the month the library has operated the 'med shed,' there have already been eight transactions.
Another community member who has expressed an interest in helping out is physiotherapist Sandy Logan, according to Nielsen. "She has participated in the past and now she has come by once to take a quick look at what is there and how it is going to be stored," Nielsen said. "She is going to come to do a full inventory with her toolbox and cleaning products and our summer student will help." Nielsen expects Logan to give her direction as to which products need to be fixed and which can't be lent out any longer. "Once that is done, we'll be able to do an inventory and track the equipment," she said, adding that Logan will assess not only what is there but what is missing and whether the collection is adequate.
If Bowen Island residents want to make a contribution of additional equipment or by donating funding to fix what is there, they are asked to get in touch with the Bowen Island Municipal Library.
