TRL offers new Check Out Washington kits

Hubert the Corgi doesn't come with Timberland Regional Library's Check Out Washington Kits but he's clearly happy for the adventure it inspired.

Photo by Allison Lu, Courtesy of Timberland Regional Library

Timberland Regional Library now offers new Check Out Washington Kits to help area families get closer to nature.

TRL is one of ten library districts in the state to offer the new Check Out Washington Kits, which include binoculars, pamphlets and one Check Out Washington Discover Pass. The district received 30 kits that have been distributed and are circulating between its 29 library locations, said Timberland Regional Library Content and Access Director Andrea Heisel.

TRL was contacted by the Washington State Library about offering the grant-funded kits to library patrons, Heisel said.

“We were thrilled to add another option to our increasingly popular Library of Things collection,” Heisel said.

Library of Things

Library of Things is a TRL collection that includes various backpacking kits and other items that fall outside the regular category of library materials for checkout.

To check out the kits, patrons should check the library catalog for the closest library with an available kit or place a hold online for pickup. Once they get a notification from their branch, they can pick up the kit at the branch during opening hours. All items check out for up to three weeks.

The new kits were distributed as part of a partnership between the Washington State Parks, Washington State Parks Foundation, WSECU, which sponsored the purchase of the passes, the Washington State Library, and the Office of the Washington Secretary of State.

“We’re so pleased to be facilitating this team effort to expand the Check Out Washington program to encourage more first-time users,” Washington State Parks Foundation Executive Director John Floberg in a recent press release. “The most exciting thing for me is to see this private-public partnership specifically focused on helping those across Washington who are least likely to be able to visit state parks.”

Distribution was prioritized for communities where health disparity data shows a higher need for free access to recreation opportunities. The kits enable the exploration and enjoyment of state parks.

“Each Check Out Washington Adventure Kit is designed to help patrons connect with nature and enjoy the physical and mental well-being benefits of spending time outdoors,” Heisel said.

Packs include materials to help first-time visitors, including a Discover Pass which supplies users with free parking, educational materials and a set of three laminated pocket guides about Washington trees, wildlife and birds. A high-quality set of binoculars funded by the Washington State Parks Foundation is also included in the pack.

To buy a regular one-day Discover Pass, the cost is $10 plus a $1.50 transaction if bought at a licensed vendor. Annual passes cost $30, plus a $5 transaction fee.

Timberland Regional Library has locations serving Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties.

“We invite patrons to go by their local TRL library or place a hold online and ‘checkout’ a good time,” Heisel said.