By Kevin Sears
Nationally renowned and TikTok-famous, our local Huntington Beach Central Library (HBCL) is loved for its beautiful lakes, spiral staircase and water features. But did you know that you can also check out plant seeds from the library?
At HBCL, you can do more than just check out books or feast upon Belgian waffles at the Park Bench Cafe. Let us explore what other goodies HBCL has to offer!
Seed Library
Open to all HBCL cardholders, the HBCL Seed Library is a five-by-five cabinet displayed proudly in front of the library’s silent reading area, with plants adorning its sides. Patrons can check out up to 10 seed packets per month. Unlike books, these seeds don’t need to be returned once planted, but patrons are encouraged to re-donate seeds after their plants sprout.
Like its books, HBCL holds a wide variety of seeds ranging from lettuces and roots to herbs and flowers that you could check out to plant in your garden.
Mobile Hotspot
During the pandemic, thousands of students across the nation lost access to their education due to a lack of Internet access as schools transitioned to a hybrid format.
Under the worrisome case of another pandemic, HBCL offers cardholders the option to check out a free mobile hotspot. The hotspot provides unlimited data, can be borrowed for 21 days, and supports up to 10 connected devices simultaneously.
Makerspace
From a circuit maker for die cutting to 3D printers for designing, the HBCL makerspace is a free, accessible spot to test and experiment with the latest equipment. Open to all cardholders older than 14, the makerspace has volunteers available to guide and teach cardholders how to utilize these technologies. There are also sewing machines, button makers, Adobe Creative Cloud and laser engravers available.
Final Thoughts
Spending thousands of dollars on 3D printers or tens of dollars on seeds can put up a hefty barrier to starting new hobbies. But, at HBCL, anyone can experiment with planting seeds in a garden or laser engraving a logo all for free, with the help and advice of experts. There’s no reason to not try learning a new hobby, so check out HBCL now!
