What Is A Seed Library?
According to Wikipedia, “A seed library is an institution that lends or shares seed. It is distinguished from a seed bank in that the main purpose is not to store or hold germplasm or seeds against possible destruction, but to disseminate them to the public which preserves the shared plant varieties through propagation and further sharing of seed.”
So what is a seed library? It’s simply a place where you can “check out” seeds for free. The seeds come from the backyards of local gardeners and companies that donate seeds. The Lyman Public Library does not require a library card to check out seeds.
In addition to being free, here’s what’s awesome about getting seeds from a seed library. First, you have the chance to get unique heirloom and local varieties from folks who have been gardening for years. Second, fewer seeds are wasted. Many of us don’t need a whole seed packet of seeds; the seed library makes small packets suitable for a home garden.
We accept all kinds of seed donations of commercially packaged and saved seeds. We then repackage donations into coin envelopes, writing as much information as possible onto a mailing label and sticking it on the front. Each envelope will contain enough seeds to start three to five plants.
Due to a lack of time and manpower, we don’t strictly monitor what is being checked out, but we do have a sign-out sheet where people write their names and the seeds they’ve taken, and can include an email address if they are interested in our gardening programs or volunteering.
February Library Letter
Happy February Everyone!!!
Whether in a relationship, single, or ready to throw your ex out the window, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Feb. 14th that don’t involve crowded restaurants, buying fancy presents, or sitting at home alone. Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year instead with a trip to the library, where we have a wide selection of DVDs and novels to choose from, no matter what your idea of a romantic night in, from Hallmark Romance to the latest from Stephen King, might be.
For all of you gardeners out there, it’s never too early to plan for your summer and fall harvests. The library will be starting a Seed Library, and we will be accepting commercially packaged seeds of all varieties to get this project started. We will also host a seedling exchange in the spring.
The library has begun hosting Tuesday Morning Coffee every week, beginning at 10 am. This is a great way to catch up on local events and chat with friends and neighbors over coffee, tea, and homemade goodies. Come join the fun with us!
The library is also attempting to locate and reshelve over 100 overdue books and DVDs. There are no late fees if you happen to come across any of these while doing some early spring cleaning this month, just pop by the library and toss them through the Book Drop.
Last but not least, don’t forget to come see all of the new books available for checkout with our online catalog https://lyman.biblionix.com/catalog/
We hope to see you soon during our new hours, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm.
