We need libraries, but instead of books, you borrow musical instruments.

Submitted ⁨⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Pat_Riot@lemmy.today⁩ to ⁨showerthoughts@lemmy.world⁩

More people would try playing an instrument if they could borrow one to try it out. I already play several, but I’m running out of money and space for more. It’d also be nice to pop down to the library and check out the one I’m currently obsessing over to see if I want one permanently. Hell, I’d donate ones I hardly ever use to add to the diversity. This wouldn’t replace buying instruments any more than regular libraries ended book stores.

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HarneyToker@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
As someone who teaches percussion and constantly has to deal with kids that I KNOW breaking publicly used shit, I can’t imagine the instruments would last long out in the wild. Most instruments require care and maintenance from someone who knows how to take care of it. Even on a day-by-day basis.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I gave no consideration to such things. I was only craving a large building with as many different instruments as a typical library has books.
  
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IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
my Library does that too.

libraries are just books, they have a lot of services, besides being one of the few places you’re allowed to exist without payment.

mine has a maker space with so many tools, cnc, 3d printers, large format printers, sublimation printers, embroidery machines… office spaces, rooms to book, library of things with telescopes board games, repair tools, music instruments…

please go check your local library and get a card

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I have a card, but my little rural library is not very impressive. Thankfully I already have more toys than my wife thinks are necessary.
  
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  - IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    that kinda sucks. hope it’s still a nice place to just hang out and chill
    
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- MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Embroidery machine… Cool.
  
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- ivanafterall@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Mine literally has PS5 games. Board games. I rented a huge telescope from my old library. I love libraries.
  
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Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.works ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
This already exists at a lot of libraries! Example: …biblioottawalibrary.ca/…/musical-instruments

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- CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  All the cool libraries are doing it: www.spl.org/…/music-practice-rooms
  
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TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
most schools offer this for kids.

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Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Libraries in blue states in the US do that commonly. I hear, but don’t know first hand, that it is less common in red states. I assumed europe did it too, but maybe they don’t?

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roofuskit@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Libraries can also do that.

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undeffeined@lemmy.ml ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Already a thing in Finnish libraries. You can also borrow powertools for home fixing.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  That’s very cool. How is the selection?
  
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  - undeffeined@lemmy.ml ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    That will depend on the library. I never borrowed any instruments, only a power drill.
    
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- trashcroissant@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Omg the tools would be dope. We have so much shit in our house that’s been used once and then stored away forever.
  
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starlinguk@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
At our library you can borrow instruments, tools, toys and computer games.

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SigmarStern@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨13⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I like the idea, however there are some differencea between books and musical instruments. Hygiene is a problem with all woodwind instruments. Strings, sticks, cymbals, cables brake and need to be replaced regularly. Also a whole ass drumset is huge compared to a book. But there are rehearsal rooms that you can rent that also rent out instruments. It is expensive though.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Having dreams, having dreams. You see, I have a whole ass drum set that I really don’t have space for and don’t play really ever. I’d love to turn it into that Goldtone fretless banjo for a month to see if I really like the idea as much as I think I do. I play banjo kind of unconventionally, and I think it would lend to my style, but I don’t really want to spend $400, to find out I’m wrong. So, the library I was wishing for is highly unrealistic anyway. Just dreaming.
  
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- Flauschige_Lemmata@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  With most woodwinds, you probably have to get your own reed for ~3,50€. But the rest can be cleaned well enough.
  
  When my concert band lends out instruments they have to get a professional service at the local music store when you return them. They’ll replace any consumable parts that are missing, if you haven’t already.
  
  Of course that would probably be a bit more difficult in a library setting, where the lease lasts only a very short time.
  
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Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Not a library, but the EMP Museum in Seattle has different soundproof rooms with instruments and recording equipment you can use to produce your own stuff.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  That’s pretty damn cool
  
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  - Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    There’s even a turntable and synth in one of them.
    
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newtraditionalists@kbin.melroy.org ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Libraries sometimes have power tools or cooking equipment and all sorts of cool stuff. They are truly the best thing about modern society.

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Flauschige_Lemmata@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
My concert band does that. You can borrow an instrument and we arrange for cheaper tutoring. You just have to promise to play in our band a year later.

The local music school (the place where you go to get a tutor. Not a school for general education) and the local instrument store also lend out instruments.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Nice!
  
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gigachad@piefed.social ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
If I look at how people handle CDs and Blu-Rays in our library I don’t think it’s a good idea. In theory yes, but people can’t have nice things

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I’s just having dreams. You’re right, though, most likely.
  
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phoenixarise@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
My local library lends out cruising bikes 🙂

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Neat
  
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umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨13⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
or tools too expensive specialized or cumbersome to actually own.

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- JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  We have a tool library in Vancouver. I don’t think it’s unique?
  
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  - umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    wish i had those, sounds awesome!
    
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- Thorry@feddit.org ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Aren’t those just tool rental shops? Those are pretty common
  
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- undeffeined@lemmy.ml ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Thats a thing in Finnish libraries, quite cool.
  
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tlekiteki@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
A great idea.

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schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨13⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Couldn’t you just go to a store that sells musical instruments and try them out there? I don’t know about musical instruments to know the answer, but I am a hobbyist photographer and we can certainly do that with cameras.

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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  You can, but I’m after something a little weird this time.
  
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  - Flauschige_Lemmata@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Then even a well stocked instrument library probably won’t have it
    
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- Ephera@lemmy.ml ⁨13⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  You can do that where I live, but you can also borrow musical instruments in the library here, so no idea, if that’s universal…
  
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remon@ani.social ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
That sure would be nice. But certainly not something that is needed.

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- trashcroissant@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  People who can’t afford instruments would disagree with you, I’m sure. Imagine all the great music we miss out on because someone couldn’t afford an instrument or a lesson. What we need as a society is to provide for each other.
  
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  - remon@ani.social ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    
    People who can’t afford instruments would disagree with you
    
    Right … but you could say that about a lot of expensive and niche hobbies.
    
    Imagine all the great music we miss out on because someone couldn’t afford an instrument or a lesson. What we need as a society is to provide for each other.
    
    Imagine all the terrible music we were spared because talentless randoms couldn’t just pick up an instrument for free.
    
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- Flauschige_Lemmata@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Self actualization might be at the very top of the pyramid of needs. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have it.
  
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  - remon@ani.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Nah, that would be food.
    
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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Sounds to me like you haven’t found your instrument yet. More people making music is definitely something this world needs.
  
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  - remon@ani.social ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Have you been to primary school? We all got to try out instruments there … and some people, including me, really shouldn’t have access to them.
    
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Apeman42@lemmy.world ⁨14⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
My ideal “non-book library” would be a public woodshop with a Ron Swanson librarian figure to help people use the tools safely.

Woodworking seems so satisfying as both an art and a craft, but between the cost of materials, tools, and the space needed, I could never take up the hobby in the foreseeable future. But if I could go to a public workshop and use shared tools, just providing my own raw materials, the barrier to entry falls dramatically.

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- AnchoriteMagus@lemmy.world ⁨14⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Obviously your mileage may vary based on where you’re located, but look into makerspaces in your area. There’s one about 20 min from me with a fully equipped wood and metal shops, CNCs, pottery wheels and kiln, electronics benches, etc etc etc, as well as like, 4 others within an hour drive. A ton have workshops / knowledgeable staff on hand.
  
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northernlights@lemmy.today ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
That sounds nice but do you assume everybody can play a musical instrument?

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- WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.world ⁨15⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at? How is a library having instruments for people to play different from libraries having books to read?
  
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- Pat_Riot@lemmy.today ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  No, I assume more people would try if they didn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to find out.
  
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- agamemnonymous@piefed.social ⁨15⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Do you mean “can play a musical instrument” as in “knows how to” or “has the potential to”? Obviously not everyone knows how, especially if they don’t own one. But I think basically anyone has the potential. Screwing around with an instrument helps you figure out if if it’s a halfway decent fit, and with the Internet it’s pretty easy to learn enough of the basics to figure out if it’s right for you.
  
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  - Interstellar_1@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨13⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    There are also books on how to play instruments, which is something libraries usually also have
    
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