Thursday, April 7, 2016
The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library opened at the
Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library on Monday, April 7, 2016.
(Tim Fraser)
People interested in playing a musical instrument can now try one for free, thanks to a new lending program that’s debuted in Toronto with plans to roll out across Canada this spring.
The library, sponsored by Sun Life Financial, is stocked with 100 instruments including classical and acoustic guitars, bongo drums, xylophones, violins and keyboards. And all of them can be borrowed as easily as taking out a book.
“We know how much music enriches life, but many Torontonians don’t have ready access to musical instruments for financial reasons,” Toronto librarian Vickery Bowles said in a press release announcing the launch of the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library on Thursday.
“Programs such as this one break down those barriers and connect people to wonderful opportunities.”
A keyboard that will be available from the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library on April 7, 2016. (Tim Fraser)
Using a valid Toronto library card, instruments can be borrowed, one at a time, for a period of up to three weeks. Borrowers can even extend the loan period with two possible renewals. Returning the instrument after the due date will result in the same fines levied on overdue adult books: 40 cents per day, up to a maximum of $16.
Unlike books, which can be returned to any branch, instruments can only be returned to the branch from which they were taken, in this case the Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library.
According to the release, the program is part of a national initiative to get similar instrument lending programs in place in other cities across Canada.
“This new program is a natural extension of our support of music education, bringing music into the homes of residents across the city of Toronto,” said Paul Joliat, assistant vice president of philanthropy and sponsorships at Sun Life Financial.
Other musical lending libraries in Ontario include the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library in Kingston, Ont. and the instrument lending program at the Prince Edward County Public Libraries.
Libraries have begun to stock more than just books recently with power tool libraries showing up in cities throughout the country such as Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary. Those in Vancouver can also borrow seeds from the North Vancouver City Library and library card holders at the Greater Sudbury Public Library in Ontario can borrow snowshoes and fishing tackles. 3-D printers and other electronics are also becoming commonplace at libraries throughout the country.
Source: ctvnews.ca
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