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The Crystal Lake Public Library launched its Library of Things collection in March 2025, and the community response was immediate and enthusiastic. One of the most popular items in this collection is the TonieBox, an interactive audio player intended for children ages 1-12. Each box has audio content that can be enhanced by additional characters. Seeing children make a beeline for the TonieBox display tags to select a favorite character and watching families browse options for their weekend fun has been especially rewarding.
Building on the popularity of the TonieBox items, we expanded the collection to include bilingual and Spanish‑language characters, along with additional tabletop games. Through the RAILS My Library Is… Grant and generous game donations, we added a total of 41 new items to the collection and purchased durable containers to support safe and convenient circulation.
For packaging, staff thought creatively and “outside the box.” TonieBox characters were housed in clear plastic jars with metal lids, while taller boxed games that did not fit standard craft bins were packaged into repurposed cupcake carriers, an inexpensive solution.
To further support both the games component of the Library of Things and the 2025 Summer Reading Program theme, the library introduced a new adult “After Hours” program featuring tabletop gaming as part of the evening experience. Attendance has increased with each offering, demonstrating strong interest and affirming the value of games as a tool for connection, engagement, and lifelong play.
Today's blog post was written by Nancy Weber (she/her), Head of Adult Services at Crystal Lake Public Library
This project was made possible by the My Library Is... Grant.