**WE HAVE UPDATED OUR LIBRARY POLICIES AS OF JUNE 2023. PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOUT BUTTON BELOW FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION!**
Are you an educator looking for STEAM or Makerspace resources to use with your students?
Gizmo has over 250 pieces of equipment and books available for check-out! Scroll down to browse our inventory.
Click on the "About" section below for information about library policies, eligibility and check-out procedures. Gizmo's Lending Library program is supported by the Idaho STEM Action Center.
Click on the "About" section below for information about library policies, eligibility and check-out procedures. Gizmo's Lending Library program is supported by the Idaho STEM Action Center.
About: Lending Library
Gizmo’s Lending Library is a collection of equipment and books to enhance STEAM and maker-centered learning in both formal and informal educational settings. Educators (including classroom teachers, school administrators, after-school programs, preschool/daycare providers, scouting groups, out-of-school organizations, adult basic education programs, homeschool groups and more) are eligible to borrow items from the Lending Library. There is no charge or membership requirement. You can browse available items in the galleries below.
Prior to checking out your first item, we recommend reviewing the policies and procedures below. If you have additional questions, please email lendinglibrary@gizmo-cda.org
Lending Library General Policies & Procedures - UPDATED June 2023:
Prior to checking out your first item, we recommend reviewing the policies and procedures below. If you have additional questions, please email lendinglibrary@gizmo-cda.org
Lending Library General Policies & Procedures - UPDATED June 2023:
- All requests must be made a minimum of one week in advance.
- Reservations are first-come, first-served. You can check if someone has an existing reservation for an item in our Reservations Calendar, available here or at the bottom of this page.
- Requests should generally be limited to four items or less (a set, such as the Makey Makeys or LEGO robotics kits, is considered a single item). We will do our best to accommodate larger volume requests; however we cannot guarantee it. Requesting early and responding in a timely manner to staff questions will help your request go smoother!
- The default check-out period for Library items is 14 days, with the exception of the Glowforge and Flashforge 3D Printers, which must be returned within a week. A longer check-out period may be requested in the “Additional Comments” section of the Reservation Form, or via email. We are generally able to accommodate these requests provided no other educator has requested the item.
- Requested items must be picked up at Gizmo during operating hours. We do not offer a delivery option.
- Please pick up your item(s) on your scheduled pick-up date. You will receive an email reminder two days in advance. If you are unable to pick up your items or need to change your pick-up date, please contact us. Requests that are not picked up within three days will be automatically canceled.
- During the borrowing period, you may share library items with other educators within your organization/school; however, we ask that individuals from outside your organization reserve the item separately.
- Return items in the same condition in which they were received
- Please notify Gizmo immediately if a library item is lost or damaged, or if you receive an item that doesn’t work. We understand that, especially in the education setting, accidents happen and ask simply for honest and prompt communication if/when incidents occur. Gizmo does not charge for lost/damaged items; however, we reserve the right to restrict or deny borrowing privileges if there are repeat damages or unreturned items.
Lending Library Gallery
Gizmo has catalogued all of our books and educational equipment available for check-out in an online gallery, which you can browse below. For equipment, tools, manipulatives and other teaching technology, click on the "Browse Equipment" tab. For STEAM-related children's literature, click on the "Browse Books" tab.
Click on the "Educator Resources" tab for tutorials, instruction manuals, lesson plans and activity guides for many of the items in our Equipment library.
To request an item for check-out, click on the item in the Gallery and then click the URL to access Gizmo's Lending Library Request Form. *NEW* You can now verify item availability using our Reservations Calendar at the bottom of this page.
Mobile/Tablet Users: for an optimal experience, view the database full screen in another window.
Click on the "Educator Resources" tab for tutorials, instruction manuals, lesson plans and activity guides for many of the items in our Equipment library.
To request an item for check-out, click on the item in the Gallery and then click the URL to access Gizmo's Lending Library Request Form. *NEW* You can now verify item availability using our Reservations Calendar at the bottom of this page.
Mobile/Tablet Users: for an optimal experience, view the database full screen in another window.
Reservations Calendar
The Reservations Calendar shows currently reserved and/or borrowed items. If an item appears on a date, it is unavailable on that date. To view this calendar in full-screen, click here.
