By Ollie Osterman
The Defiance Public Library is an alternative to DC’s Pilgrim Library, especially if you are looking to read for recreation instead of for schoolwork. The library itself offers many things, but you need a library card to check out or use most things. You can find them on 320 Fort Street here in Defiance, or their website, defiancelibrary.org.
For residents of Ohio, getting a library card is free, provided that you bring in an ID, even if you apply online for a card. However, for those not from Ohio, it can be a little more complicated. In fact, if you do not live in Ohio, you will have to apply in-person, and there will be a $45 fee.
Checking out a book once you have a card is pretty easy, and there are only fees if you lose or damage a book. Speaking of losing a book, if you find the book and give it back, even after being charged the replacement fee, they will refund you. For those of you who enjoy e-books or audio books, they do offer both of these through things like Hoopla and the Ohio digital library.
On the second floor of the non-fiction sector is a maker-space area, where you can use supplies up there in crafts of your choice, this includes a sewing machine and 3D printer. Additionally, they also allow card holders to use the computers within the library, but this is a “first come, first serve” basis, so you should call ahead for that.
Along with everything listed, you can check out museum passes for up to 4 days; however, these are not renewable. The passes available through this are the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, Field of Dreams Drive-in, Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, and Science Central in Fort Wayne.
You can check out items that you may need as well through the Library of Things. You can check out items for up to 14 days. These items are binoculars, blood pressure monitor, boombox, borescope, digital film scanner, disc golf set, ghost hunting kit, and more. They also offer things called Lit Kits, where you can sign up to be given books to read every month. These are subject to the return policy of the library, but anything else in the basket you are given is yours to keep. There is typically a waiting list for this, and you do have to have a library card, but you can sign up online pretty easily.
They also host a ton of events, although I would recommend checking out what age they’re geared for. Overall, the Defiance Public Library is definitely a place you should check out if you have the time and want to read or make crafts. So if you are curious about it, check out the website and find out if they offer something you would enjoy.