‘Library of things.’ Mid-Columbia Libraries starts loaning more than books, videos

Need a cornhole setup for your next backyard barbecue?

Mid-Columbia Libraries has you covered.

It has debuted a collection of more than 150 games, from board games to lawn games to a couple of electronic game systems, for checkout, as a first step in its new “Library of Things.”

The games are housed and displayed at its Keewaydin Park library at 405 S. Dayton St. in Kennewick. But by placing a hold online on a game, those with library cards can have them delivered to any library in the Mid-Columbia Libraries system.

The Richland Public Library is not part of the system, but has its own collection of board games.

The Mid-Columbia Libraries lawn game collection includes classics such as bocce ball, ladder toss and croquet, in addition to cornhole.

Board games range from ones appropriate for preschoolers, such as Don’t Wake Daddy and Crocodile Dentist, to party games, like Poetry for Neanderthals and Fakin’ It.

The collection includes classics like Chinese Mahjong and modern board games like Trekking the National Parks and Catan, with both a traditional version and one for younger players.

Harry Potter fans can test their knowledge with a Trivial Pursuit game based on the books.

The collection also includes two Sega Genesis mini video entertainment systems with 40 games and an Atari 2600+ with 10 games.

Customer satisfaction surveys for the Mid-Columbia Libraries have shown high interest in a Library of Things, said Carlos Orozco, the system’s associate director of communications.

The collection of games, which already is popular, will test the service and then it likely will be expanded for other items that residents might need for just a short time or are expensive to buy and own.

In the last customer satisfaction survey, interest was particularly high for a collection of crafting equipment, including special scissors and other tools and sewing machines, Orozco said.

To browse the collection of games at the Mid-Columbia Libraries, go to bit.ly/4kWIcTa.

The Richland Public Library game collection is posted at bit.ly/45hnsBa.

Both the Richland and Mid-Columbia Libraries are part of a regional reciprocal lending program, allowing patrons of either to use their home library card to request a guest card for physical materials at the other at no cost. An out-of-district card for digital materials requires a fee.

This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM.