Explore Outdoors Collection
Virginia Beach Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
If you ask people about libraries, they often reminisce about childhood story time visits. How do you reignite, and fuel continued community connection with the library beyond childhood? Virginia Beach Public Library (VBPL) sought to answer that question and speak to lifestyle shifts following the pandemic. Actively supporting various literacies and workforce needs already, the Explore Outdoors collection showcases libraries’ evolution and relevancy with a unique library offering. Social limitations of the pandemic encouraged customers to spend more time outdoors. The collection meets customers outside with activities such as birdwatching, badminton, and even ghost hunting. VBPL is the first library in the Northern Hemisphere to circulate surfboards. Bringing people together after much time spent apart, contributing to post pandemic social cohesion, placing our library in the limelight with a positive community contribution creating new users and re-engaging lost users.
Challenge/Opportunity
VBPL serves the largest city in the state by population, a dynamic community with high rates of seasonal workforce to meet demands of tourism (13.6M annual) and the largest military presence on the eastern seaboard. The challenge is how to reintroduce and build awareness of the library and our extensive resources to a fluid population? The library providing these items enables a circular economy of use. Customers can explore new activities without the barrier of cost to buy or rent equipment like surfboards or metal detectors. It also introduces new residents to their community by showcasing our area resources- 35 miles of shoreline, 2 national parks, and 200 city parks. Building on the national trend of ‘Library of Things’ collections VBPL identified the opportunity to curate a collection that spotlights the richness of our natural spaces and fosters a love of the outdoors with our new neighbors.
Key Elements of Innovation
Recognizing the local resident commitment to health and wellness and the safety of gathering outdoors following the pandemic, branch staff brainstormed collaboratively with no limitations to build a dream list of outdoor items to circulate. Consulting with city, state, and national park staff, items were selected for a grant proposal to the Virginia Beach Library Foundation. Implementation required extensive research into library best practice including conversations with city risk management/legal staff to address issues of liability, and cataloging staff to package unique items. This collection rewrites the library narrative, showcasing relevancy for more than just readers. It expands the perception of how a library can serve our customers providing outdoor experiences, challenges, and opportunities for skill building all while removing the barrier of cost. Exploring collection building based on local natural resources and community passions, we asked, ‘Why not circulate surfboards?’
Achieved Outcomes
This innovation received extensive local media coverage; multiple news networks, local PBS affiliate WHRO and the front page of the local paper. Social media posts about the collection garnered the largest lifetime engagement of 15,114, a 383% increase over the 2nd highest post. Item values and circulations place library customer savings at $30,500, making experiencing our community more affordable. Items have been checked out 85% of the time since acquisition.
Customers share joyful experiences such as surf lessons with their family using the surfboard(s), playing outdoor games at family gatherings, and increased engagement with local natural resource areas and city parks.
Initially piloted at one branch, the success led to an expansion to all branches in 2024. Items are non-holdable and vary by location, sparking customer exploration of all branches. Customers continue to travel across the city and from North Carolina to discover the innovative collection and explore the outdoors
