Ukulele
Highland Park Public Library, hplibrary.org
Sure, a ukulele looks like fun, but how often would you really pluck it? Save yourself the impulse-buy regret and borrow one for two weeks instead.
GoPro camera
Skokie Public Library, skokielibrary.info
The gadget collection here includes microphones, MP3 recorders, and scanners—everything you need for your web series about artisanal cheese.
Seeds
Lisle Library District, lislelibrary.org
How do you return something you bury underground? Bring in the new seeds from the plants you grow.
Sewing machine
Ela Area Public Library, eapl.org
Set up a DIY sweatshop with the five Singer Curvy machines that must be used onsite in the library’s Forge space.
Cake pan
Oak Lawn Public Library, olpl.org
Not a baker? The library also loans violins, a skeleton, and an LCD projector.
Fishing pole
Chicago Public Library (Rogers Park and seven other locations near water), chipublib.org
CPL beat many libraries to the alternative-collection punch, adding poles and tackle boxes donated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the ’90s.
Tripod
Downers Grove Public Library, downersgrovelibrary.org
Create your own pop-up photo studio. Professional-grade lights and lenses are also available.
Kilowatt meter
Orland Park Public Library, orlandparklibrary.org
You get a week to find out which of your appliances are the biggest power vampires.
American Girl doll
Joliet Public Library, jolietlibrary.org
You can temporarily gift Addy, Kit, or Josefina. If you have a hard enough heart to rip a doll away from a kid.