The Wichita Public Library's Library of Things is a non-traditional library collection offering a variety of equipment you can borrow for at-home use. Where noted, an adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow materials. You may have 2 Library of Things items checked out at one time.

• Anatomical Models

  

  Your Wichita Public Library wants to create college and career ready students. If you're exploring a career in the medical field, or simply want to learn more about the human body, you can now borrow anatomical models to study. Models include:

  • Classic Eye Model: Three times life size, dissectible into six parts: both halves of choroid with iris and retina; both halves of sclera with cornea and eye muscle attachments; lens; and vitreous humor.
  • Ear Model: One-piece, full-size model shows outer ear, ear canal, and inner ear mechanisms including ossicles, cochlea, nerve, and Eustachian tube.
  • Eight-Part Human Brain Model: Full-size human brain molded from PVS plastic and hand-painted to show lobes. Mounted in a rotatable metal harness on a plastic stand, the brain can be removed and dissected into eight anatomically correct parts. Includes over 50 labeled structures of the brain and a fold-out laminated color guide indicating brain structures. One side of the guide includes names, while the other side shows only numbers for student assessment.
  • Heart Model: Two-piece model opens in half to show inner chambers and valves of the heart as well as aortic arch, superior and inferior vena cava, pulmonary and cardiac veins.
  • Kidney Model: Two times life size, longitudinal section of right kidney and adrenal gland. Model highlights renal artery and vein and minor calyx, interlobular artery and vein, and ureter.

  (Descriptions from Nasco Education website.)

  You can borrow an Anatomical Model for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item.

  Request an Anatomical Model

• Binoculars

  

  The Library is for explorers! Now you can check out a Vortex Crossfire 8x42 binoculars kit from your Wichita Public Library. Each binoculars kit contains a pair of binoculars with neck strap, padded protective case, instructional manual, and three pamphlets:

  • The Night Sky Seasonal Pocket Guide
  • Kansas Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species
  • Moon: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Moon, its Surface Features, Phases, and Eclipses

  You can borrow a binoculars kit for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a binoculars kit

• Bird Watching Kits

  

  Our bird watching kits are appropriate for the whole family, with one adult pair of binoculars and two pairs of children's sized binoculars. The binoculars and several pamphlets are all housed in a sturdy backpack. Bird watching kit checkout is possible thanks to a donation by Audubon of Kansas.

  Included in the backpack are:

  • 1 pair of 8x42 adult binoculars (Bresser Condor)
  • 2 pairs of 4x30 Celestron children's binoculars
  • Kansas birds (pamphlet)
  • Moon (pamphlet)
  • Kansas Butterflies and Pollinators (pamphlet)
  • Sedgwick County Birding map (laminated sheet)

  You can borrow a bird watching kit for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. These checkouts are shared with Early Learning Backpacks and STEAM to GO! kits; limit 2 combined items checked out at a time.

  Request a bird watching kit

• Blood Pressure Monitor Kits

  

  We now offer blood pressure monitor kits. Each kit comes with a blood pressure monitor, log book, pre-survey, and instruction booklet. These kits are presented in partnership with K-State Research and Extension, the Sedgwick County Health Department, and the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.

  You can borrow a blood pressure monitor kit for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a blood pressure monitor kit

• Chromebooks

  

  The Library has a collection of Chromebooks that can be checked out from the building. These are ideal for when you are somewhere with internet access but without a computer. The Chromebooks do not include a hotspot, so you will need to connect to a wireless network or personal hotspot to access the internet.

  These Chromebooks are preloaded with the following apps:

  • Beautiful Audio Editor
  • Camera
  • Chrome Canvas
  • Dropbox
  • eBay
  • Google Drive
  • Kramer VIA
  • LibreOffice Editor
  • LinkedIn

  • Lucidpress
  • Microsoft Office Online
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides
  • Skype
  • SumoPaint
  • Twitter WebApp
  • Zoom

  You can borrow a Chromebook for 28 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a Chromebook

• Experience Passes

  

  The Library now offers Experience Passes! You can borrow a family pack of passes from the Library to explore a selected local museum or attraction – at no cost! Special exhibits and add-on experiences may have additional fees. Experience Passes do not cover the cost of concessions or gift shop purchases.

  Museums and Attractions

  • Botanica, 701 N. Amidon
    Located in the Museums on the River area, Botanica has more than 30 gardens and exhibits with gardenscaping, sculptures and fountains to explore.
  • Cosmosphere, 110 N. Plum St., Hutchinson, KS 67501
    A short drive west of Wichita brings you to the Cosmosphere, the "greatest space museum on planet Earth."
  • Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd.
    Exploration Place is Kansas' premier science center, inspiring a deep interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences.
  • Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E. Douglas
    The Great Plains Transportation Museum displays an assortment of railroad equipment, including a steam and a diesel Santa Fe locomotive.
  • Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca
    The Mid-America All-Indian Museum is dedicated to educating people about and preserving the culture of the American Indian for future generations.
  • Museum of World Treasures, 835 E. 1st St.
    With three floors of exhibits and surprises around every corner, you'll unlock the stories of the past at the Museum of World Treasures!
  • Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd.
    Old Cowtown Museum is home to over 25,000 historical artifacts and 54 buildings which span 23 acres along the Arkansas River. Wichita's storied past is vividly brought to life through daily activities, special events and education programs.
  • Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd.
    From colossal elephants to majestic lions to playful otters and everything in between, the Sedgwick County Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals across nearly 400 different species.
  • Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd.
    Wichita Art Museum is a dynamic cultural hub that connects people, ideas and American art through remarkable experiences.
  • Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main St.
    The Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum houses a variety of exhibits showcasing life in Wichita and Sedgwick County over the centuries, from the Wichita Indian tribe to the cowboys who drove their cattle here, to the dawn of aviation and the City's role as the Air Capital of the World.
  • Wichita Toy Train Club and Museum, 130 Laura St.
    The Wichita Toy Train Club is an organization of collectors and operators for both classic tinplate and current hi-rail trains, and operates the Wichita Toy Train Museum.

  You can borrow an Experience Pass for 7 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item.

  View a List of Experience Passes

• Finch Robots

  

  The Finch Robot 2.0 is a programmable robot that brings computer science to life by providing students from kindergarten to college a hands-on representation of their code. These robots work with many different programming languages and come with extensive features. Finch Robot 2.0 requires use of Crayola Paint Brush Pens or markers of a similar size to work. Pens are not included.

  You can borrow a Finch Robot for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a Finch Robot 2.0

• Microscopes

  

  Investigate objects too small for the eye to see with the Amscope microscope kit. Power the microscope with either the included power adapter or three AA batteries (not included). Each microscope kit has:

  • An Amscope 40X-1000X portable dual light glass lens metal frame student monocular microscope with power adapter and vinyl carrying bag
  • A 10X and a 25X eyepiece
  • 12 piece slide kit in a wood box
  • A book, The World of the Microscope by Chris Oxlade

  You can borrow a microscope kit for 14 days. There are no renewals for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a microscope kit How to use the microscope

• Radon Detectors

  

  Sponsored by Pure State Services LLC, these radon detectors let customers test radon levels in their homes or businesses. Radon is a colorless, odorless and radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors over time. The gas is a decay of Uranium/Radium that is released into the air, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. According to the EPA, Sedgwick County is considered to be a medium risk zone for radon.

  You can borrow a radon detector for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a radon detector

• Telescopes

  Library Telescopes: Quick Start Guide

  Watch video on YouTube

  Look to the stars with the Orion StarBlast Astronomical Telescope available to borrow from your Wichita Public Library. This telescope has been reviewed by a number of astronomical publications and is found to be a great resource for stargazing and learning about the solar system. Each telescope is mounted on a wooden base and has a large optical tube, meaning objects will appear in great detail. Telescope checkout is possible thanks to the generosity of the Georgia Eakins family.

  You can borrow a telescope for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item. An adult (18+) Wichita Public Library card in good standing is required to borrow this item.

  Request a telescope Telescope Resource Manual

• Tonieboxes & Tonies

  Toniebox Video

  Watch video on YouTube

  Tonieboxes use audio storytelling to introduce pre-readers and developing readers to the wonders of stories and music. Each Toniebox checks out with a set of figurines called Tonies. Add a Tonie to the top of the box and it instantly starts to play! We also check out sets of Tonie figurines and narrated chapter books. The figurine sets and chapter books do not work with the Library's Tonieboxes but are great for people who own a Toniebox.

  You can borrow a Toniebox, Tonie figurine set, or Tonie chapter book set for 14 days. There are 2 renewals* for this item.

  Learn more about Tonieboxes and Tonies

Related Materials

Chromebooks & Laptops  Inside library use only.

Early Learning Backpacks  A collection for young learners.

Playaway Launchpads  Educational tablets for checkout.

STEAM to GO! Kits  A collection for grades 4+.