The TryIts collection empowers customers to dabble in their interests in a low-stakes, approachable environment and to borrow items for further use beyond the library’s walls.

Cohesive displays and TryIts branding launched across the district in 2022, making items easier for customers to find, browse and borrow. In the future, the library will purchase items and create displays that focus respond to quarterly themes. Upcoming themes include Get Outside, Learning and Crafting & Fun Inside.

The goal of TryIts is to invite customers to sample these unexpected, non-traditional materials to help them build confidence and nurture a playful mindset. TryIts help customers overcome barriers to trying new things by showing them that the library is their partner is boundless exploration and learning. Anythink encourages feedback, and customers can request items to be added to the collection.

TryIts represent Anythink’s values, such as “eagerness to learn” and “everyone is creative,” and encourage customers to embody these attitudes. Items respond to feedback and interest. One example is offering EnChroma glasses. EnChroma are specialty eyewear that allow people with color blindness to see a broader range of colors.

“I was excited when I heard the library was offering the glasses. When you’re confronted with something normal to you, and then you see change on how the world is, it’s emotional.” – Ryan O.