Windham residents will now have a new opportunity to give their old belongings new life, as the Windham Public Library begins a monthly Swap Meet program, starting with a puzzle swap from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3.
“Things are so expensive nowadays,” said Sally Bannen, Technical Services Librarian, who decided to start the program at the library. “I’m hoping people get excited about it, whether they’re cleaning out stuff or going to look for things for themselves. Let’s keep recycling instead of throwing away.”
The swaps will also provide an opportunity for members of the community to meet others that share the same interests or hobbies.
“I am hoping that it may prompt connections,” Bannen said. “The library is a place for people to get out and meet each other, so hopefully this [the swaps] help with that too."
Each month will feature a different type of item to be traded, ranging from puzzles, books and children’s toys to craft and office supplies, and include children’s costumes in October.
Puzzles were an easy first effort, as the library has a long history of enabling puzzle swaps. Bannen manages 12 puzzles that are currently with members of the community. Puzzles loaned out can be returned, donated to an organization, or gifted to another puzzle aficionado.
“Some of it are things that I know our local folks have been asking for. The others are things that I have heard from folks that they’re interested in,” Bannen explained, adding that a local parent inspired the costume swap. “I actually had someone reach out to us back in the fall to ask about doing a swap for children’s costumes before Halloween. I wasn’t able to pull it together in time but it became an idea for the swaps.”
Bannen was also inspired by other Maine libraries, including the Yarmouth Memorial Library and the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, who have popular swap programs. Curtis Memorial Library also is a leader in a program called the “Library of Things,” which has been established at the Windham Library. Library members can borrow items like power tools, astronomy equipment, activity kits, or hiking and outdoor equipment from the library for a short time.
“We started with a small budget, and now have more than 100 items,” Bannen said.
Items left over at the end of each event that cannot be used by the library’s Library of Things will be donated to local organizations, including Goodwill, Lots for Tots, SHARECenter, and the Girl Scouts of Maine.
Bannen noted that there are few rules that accompany the swaps, but donators should be aware that all items must be “free for the taking,” as no bartering or exchange of funds would be permitted for items. Also, the library will not accept or hold items for a future swap event. The items may only be brought to the library during the time of the event, and nothing will be able to be stored.
While the events will have a regular monthly schedule on the first Saturday of each month, it will be paused for the summer months, as Bannen devotes her time to the popular Windham Farmer’s Market in June, July and August.
For more details and a listing of each month’s Swap Meet focus, please visit the Windham Library website at https://www.windham.lib.me.us/ or contact Sally Bannen at 207-892-1908, ext. 7, or sjbannen@windhammaine.us <
