Library of Things

Start a new arts or craft project with one of the kits JMRL has to offer. From Knitting to Origami to Caligraphy, there are several to try out. Check the catalog for a full list of kits available.

In partnership with the American Heart Association the Blood Pressure Monitor Station helps you to keep tabs on your heart health while at the library.

With the blood pressure monitor are instructions and a recommended levels chart.  Wrap the arm cuff directly against skin (not over clothing), just above the bend in the elbow, with the cord over the inside of the elbow. Take a deep breath and press the on button, it is that easy!

Each Book Club Kit includes a tote bag with a number of copies of a title.  Kits also include a numbered log to help keep track of book copies, discussion questions and background information, such as author biographies, book reviews, and other information.

Book Club Kits are available for Adult or Children's titles.

Fun ways to pass the time. Bird watching, playing chess, visiting a local museum, or hiking a VA state park, these kits have fun packed inside. Also checkout the Toy Library. Check the catalog for a full list of kits available.

To promote healthy living, choose from JMRL's Health Kits. Try out yoga, hand therapy, cardio, pilates, light therapy, and more. Check the catalog for a full list of kits available.

Become a member of this seed saving and exchange program. In partnership with the Piedmont Master Gardeners the Little Seed Library offers members a source for checking out or donating seeds for home gardening. From growing your own vegetables to cut flowers the Little Seed Library has something for everyone to share the joy of gardening.

The Memory Kits were designed by a pair of Outreach librarians, Kathryn Leide and Lynne Martin Erickson, to use with groups of seniors, of varying capabilities, to create interactive experiences. Each kit contains a variety of things for the senses including a dvd, a cd with sing-along booklets, things to touch, and things to smell. As the participants handle materials and hear familiar songs, it's not unusual for them to share their own memories

Check out a pass for free admission to local museums such as Virginia Discovery or Frontier Culture Museum.  Passes must be returned to the Library after your visit (not to the museum).  Check catalog item description for specifics of each pass.

Fun kits to learn about circuitry, robots, and other STEM topics. Also available are hotspots and electricity usage monitors. Check the catalog for a full list of kits available.

A set of tools for people who need additional or reduced sensory stimulation to use while visiting the library.

The kit includes noise dampening headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, and library-specific visual communication cards, as well as a printed social narrative illustrating what to expect on a library visit.  Ask for a kit at any service desk.

Want to learn a new skill? JMRL has kits to learn writing skills, playing the ukelele, cooking different cuisines, broadcast live, and more. Check the catalog for a full list of kits available.

The Toy Library is a collection of 40 different toys that will encourage imaginative and dramatic play, promoting early literacy skills. All toys are cleaned and disinfected by volunteers at the University of Virginia Madison House after each check out.

Hotspots provide fast, filtered access to your personal device throughout most of the JMRL service area. Hotspots can be checked out for three weeks.

Patrons must submit a signed Hotspot User Agreement form before checking out a hotspot.