Books vs. bongos: Toronto Public Library launches instrument lending program
Posted April 7, 2016 2:27 pm.
Last Updated April 8, 2016 9:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There are a few factors that may stop you from learning a new instrument – the biggest one could be the price of an instrument.
A quick Google search shows that a piano can cost anywhere from $3,000 to more than $100,000. A drum kit? You’re looking at anywhere from $300 to $4,000.
The good news that if you have a Toronto Public library card, which costs $0, you can now borrow instruments for free from the Parkdale branch.
The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library launched on Thursday and has 100 instruments up for grabs.
There are classical and acoustic guitars, Left and right-handed ½, ¾, and full-size guitars, soprano ukuleles, acoustic bass guitars, a banjo, a mandolin, a xylophone, a Cajon box drum, a doumbek, a Djembe African drum, a bongo drum, a Dholak (South Asian hand drum), a Tabla (Indian drum), ¼, ½, ¾, and full-size violins, as well as a 61-note and an 88-note keyboard.
The library is looking to add to the current collection that was donated by Sun Life, so it has launched a month-long donation program.
“We are hoping customers will come by with their gently-used instruments,” said Michelle Leung, the library’s communications officer.
Canadian musicians Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida were the first ones to donate. They gave up a guitar and a keyboard during the program’s launch event on Thursday morning.
The donation drive ends on Saturday, May 7. The library website lists details about on which instruments you can donate, where to donate, and more details.
The library published several videos on how to care for instruments. Watch a video on how to care for a bongo drum, below.
FAQ
Q. How many instruments can I borrow?
A. You can borrow one instrument at a time.
Q. For how long can I borrow an instrument?
You can borrow an instrument for three weeks.
Q. Can I renew it?
Yes. You can renew it twice, each renewal lasts three weeks so you can borrow the instrument for nine weeks total.
Q. What if I return the instrument late?
The late fine is $0.40 per day to a maximum of $16.00.
Q. Can I return the instrument to any branch?
No. You can only return instruments to the Parkdale branch.
Q. Where is the Parkdale branch?
The Parkdale branch is located at 1303 Queen St. W., west of Dufferin Street at Cowan Street
Q. Will the program expand to other branches?
“Hopefully in the future!,” said Leung.
Q. What happens if I lose or damage an instrument and its accessories?
The library will charge you a replacement fee.
Q. Will the instruments be cleaned after they are returned?
Yes.
The instrument program is not the first unique program coming out of the Toronto Public Library. It also hosts pop-up learning labs, the Tool Library housed at the Downsview branch, the Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass, an in-library book club and a virtual book club, a writer’s room, maker clubs and 3D-printing certification, as well as job-search workshops.
