3-6-2026

When library staff gets to talking the Library of Things (LoT) grows. The latest additions include a radon detector, Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator, and several bundles of stamps for card making.

Let’s begin with the newly purchased item: the radon detector. Several libraries in the system have one in their collections. Best guess, they do not send them on the van to be delivered to patrons at other libraries. I determined this by Miss Maria’s April 11, 2025 hold which had not been filled by another library. That would be the topic of conversation that led to our purchase.

The catalog allows for a dizzying combination of checkout rules to be attached to an item including local holds only. Each library creates their own codes matched to their rules, which means we can’t look at another library’s codes and know their rules. A catalog search for Radon Detectors will locate a record that shows six libraries own a total of seven radon detectors and claims the waiting period is 21-28 days. Clearly that is not Miss Maria’s reality. Looking from our employee program, we see that some of them have holds including Miss Maria, some have holds from local patrons and one has no holds. Only then can we determine which library may supply the item, but not why it hasn’t happened in 11 months. Very frustrating, and we work here.

Our solution, thanks to a donation from the GFWC Woman’s Club of East Troy, was to join the fray and purchase one which will be cataloged as local holds for the first year. Currently it is finishing a week of reading radon levels at the library. Good news on that. We are on the low side. The accompanying literature did suggest at least a week to establish an average. Last year’s Woman’s Club donation purchased the Radio Frequency Meter, which didn’t show such good results.

Cataloging it as local holds alone will help Miss Maria check it out. She would have been the first anyway as ETLPL card holders are always moved to the front of the holds line for items we own. That, perhaps, is the solution to the 11-month mystery. Our radon detector will be cataloged by next week.  Holds can be placed now for anyone interested.

The other additions to the LoT are the results of purging. Following my move, Miss Lisa was inspired to go through her house as well. The Pampered Chef item, purchased when they still sold merchandise through home parties, still had its plastic wrap. Anyone interested in giving fancy frosting a try, is welcome to check it out. (The stamps were a patron donation.)

Check out our website for more information on the LoT or search Library of Things in the catalog limiting results to East Troy Lions Public Library and see what’s available. If we don’t have it and you’ve been waiting for months, give us a call and we’ll see if we can shorten your wait too.

Reading Now: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (A very timely Adult Book Club selection.)

Listening to Now: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt