Library of Things, Garden Tools, and Outdoor Gear Collections

Prior to borrowing Items, all Borrowers must sign the Library of Things, Garden Tools and Outdoor Gear Library Terms of Use and Waiver of Liability.

Only adults, at least 18 years of age, are allowed to borrow items from the Library of Things, Garden Tools and Outdoor Gear Collections. Borrowers are to check out Items only for their immediate household’s use. Parents/guardians may check out Items for use by their children under 18 years of age.

Residents of Cheshire County who do not live in Keene must show a valid photo ID and register with KPL in order to borrow Items from the Garden Tools and Outdoor Gear Library Collections. Non-residents are not entitled to borrow other Items from KPL unless they purchase a non-resident library card.

Keene residents must be a KPL cardholder in good standing in order to borrow Items from the KPL’s Library of Things Collection, Outdoor Gear Library and/or Garden Tool Library.

Library staff are available to assist in explaining the basic operation of an Item but will not provide supervision or complete instructions. The Borrower is responsible for reading or viewing and following the instructions for the Item’s proper use and care, compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and proper transportation of the Item.

Items may be borrowed for one week. Borrowers may opt to renew their request to borrow the item, to the extent that there is no waiting list for said Item. Borrowers may have only three Items on loan at a time. In order to allow access for others, an Item may be borrowed by the same person only three times per year.

Items are to be returned to a Circulation Staff member during open hours and will be preliminarily reviewed in the presence of Borrower to confirm that the Item is complete and undamaged. All contents of the Item’s package must be present for the Item to be considered returned. Staff will test/ assemble the Item within 48 hours to confirm that it is functional. If the Item is not functional, the Borrower will be billed for reasonable repair or replacement costs associated with the damage.

A late fee of $5 per day per Item will be charged for every day KPL is open until the Item is returned. Borrowers with $10 or more in late or damage fees will be barred from borrowing Items, and other Library Materials if they are KPL cardholders, until their accounts are paid in full. Late fees are capped at the full replacement cost of each late Item. Overdue items are billed at replacement cost when they are one month overdue. The replacement fee of the Item will be made available at the request of the Borrower before borrowing.

The Borrower will be charged if the Item is returned dirty, damaged beyond normal wear and tear, lost or stolen. The Library’s Staff are to be the assessors of the condition of Items and will determine fair restitution in part or in total. If an Item is no longer available as a replacement, Staff will assess a fee based on the cost of a similar quality Item.

KPL is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in quality of workmanship or materials inherent in any borrowed Items. No warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, suitability, durability, fitness for a particular purpose, condition, or quality is made by KPL, directly or indirectly in connection with the Items. It is the Borrower’s responsibility to examine the Item and ascertain that its condition is acceptable and discontinue use of an Item if the Item becomes unsafe or in a state of disrepair and must notify KPL of the issue on return, if not earlier.