Want to use a metal detector, or need to borrow a wall stud finder? Forget the local DIY store, Sunbury Library is the place to go.
Offering more than books, magazines, music and movies, the library has a range of useful gadgets to borrow –including record players, film scanners and even a karaoke machine so you can sing your heart out at your next party. You can also check your home’s energy efficiency with a borrowed thermal camera.
Hume Libraries is running a clever initiative called the Library of Things – a collection of useful, interesting and fun objects available to borrow free with your library card.
The collection covers a wide range of items, such as:
- Devices to check your home’s energy efficiency (thermal cameras, air-quality detectors)
- Kits and tools for productivity and home improvement (soil meters, stud sensors)
- Electronics such as film scanners, record players (give those old 45s another spin)
- Games, gadgets and party equipment (karaoke machines, gimbal selfie sticks, telescopes)
- Even a metal detector to explore your own backyard (who knows what you might find)
Items are housed across Hume’s main branches at Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury, and you can place a hold online to pick up from whichever branch suits you.
How it works
- You must be 18 or over and hold a full library membership
- A short briefing and a loan agreement form are required before borrowing
- Loan periods are generally one week
- Because items are valuable and specialised, they must be returned to a staff member (not through the returns chute)
This initiative taps into the growing trend of “sharing rather than buying”, where everyday items that might otherwise sit unused can be accessed by the community for short-term use.
For Sunbury families and DIY enthusiasts, it means you can try out a gadget before committing to buy, borrow something you might only need once, or simply have fun experimenting with something new. It’s a smart way to reduce waste, save money, and make the most of public library resources.
Head to the Hume Libraries website, check out the Library of Things collection, place your hold, and see what interesting equipment you can borrow next week. For more information, visit the Explore Our Collection section at hume.vic.gov.au/libraries.