Would you like to borrow a nice pair of binoculars for a bird watching jaunt? Use a telescope on a starry night? Do you have some eggs to hatch and need an incubator? Want to try out a night vision scope? Or a metal detector? Or a microscope?

Pocahontas Libraries has these items and much more to lend.  All equipment is high quality. And the loan of equipment is free of charge, just like borrowing library books. Well, almost. Our nature equipment must be checked out by an established adult library cardholder who signs an agreement of responsibility. One’s library card then carries this endorsement in our database.

Pocahontas County is nationally noted for its spectacular array of natural wonder. We live in an extraordinary place to enjoy nature. Technology can enhance the enjoyment.  For example, there are worlds to explore with a microscope on the end of smallness, and with a telescope on the other end of bigness. Using one of our night vision scopes or motion cameras opens up the life around us in the darkness of the night. Binoculars bring the speck of a bird into recognition. A metal detector finds a buried coin.

Importantly, we need to inspire our children to love the outdoors. Under responsible adult supervision, children can use the equipment to develop observational skills and expand their knowledge of nature. The nature equipment is wonderful for a family activity, a church youth group program, a Scout or 4-H outing.  For example, geochaching using our GPS units makes for a fun group “treasure hunt” day.

Pocahontas Libraries is unique in West Virginia in having nature equipment to lend. The equipment was purchased under a grant from the Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in West Virginia by the State Librarian of the West Virginia Library Commission.

The equipment will be available for all of our branches at Linwood, Durbin, Hillsboro, Green Bank and McClintic. In many cases, we have multiple sets of equipment. For example, we have eight binoculars, four telescopes, four egg incubators. However, this project is a challenge to keep organized and stored. We therefore are keeping the bulk of the equipment at the McClintic Library. We recommend that a borrower make a reservation for equipment a few days in advance so that we have time to shuttle it to your local branch. We also insist that our library staff rather than volunteers handle the equipment checkout and check-in.  Each piece of equipment has special instructions on care, cleaning, battery use and a listing of attachments and pieces if applicable.

Length of time for checkout will vary depending upon the use of the equipment and demand, and thus will be negotiable. For example, an egg incubator might be needed for a full month.  On the other hand, a family reunion that needs some of our fishing rods and reels may only need the equipment for a few days.  The important thing we want to emphasize is that we want the equipment used. A lot. Just not hoarded.

On a related note, PCFL will soon have guitars and electronic keyboards for lending. This equipment is of decent quality. People can try out an instrument during beginner’s lessons, and then purchase their own guitar if they want to continue.