Legos are one of the least polarizing things on the planet. You’d be hard pressed to find a single human under the age of 18—or over for that fact—that doesn’t like Lego.
The only negativity surrounding them generally falls into two camps: (1) anger emanating from parents after having stepped on a missing piece in their bare feet, or (2) subtle anger from parents lamenting just how expensive the latest must-have Lego set costs.
Just how expensive you ask? Consider this 6,020-piece Hogwarts Castle set from the Harry Potter universe. True, it’s one of the larger sets available, but that $469.99 price stag will scare off quite a number of parents.
That’s one of the reasons why the St. Clairsville Public Library’s Lego to Go program has been such a big hit since its inception back in the Fall of 2022.
Through purchases and a few donations, the library has made available Lego kits to be checked out, put together, and then returned to the library—with the entire process being free of charge, save for the cost of time spent and fun had whilst putting together the different sets.
“We’ve had a great response to the program,” noted library director Doug Walsh. “Since it’s inception, we’ve had more than 500 check-outs for the program, and that’s just been since November.
The library staff recently put a temporary hold on checkouts, that ended at the end of February. The plan was to get all the kits checked back in, ensure all the pieces were still in said kits, and order any of the missing pieces so the kits were ready to go and be put together once more.
Walsh himself noted the need for multiple calls to the Lego home office in Denmark, in order to order any of the specialized pieces the individual sets require.
“We’ve had a lot of calls,” Walsh said with a small laugh. “The pieces are just so specialized now. It’s not just square bricks as each set is unique and we’ve had to call a few times to order in special pieces.”
The Process
Yes, this is the library, so like books, there’s no cost to checking out a Lego set. The library is a gateway to learning and fun for both children and adults, not a stumbling block.
Interested parties need only be a member of the library system, which is free. They can then see the Lego to Go board near the front desk in the library to see which kits are available to be checked out.
Once checked out, the kits can be taken home and built, and then return. Upon return, the staff asks that the kit be returned with the finished build still intact. The reasoning is two-fold, and no, not just because it’s easier to make sure what all pieces, if any, are missing.
The main idea is the Lego passport program. Upon first checking out a kit, children can obtain a Lego passport book, which has places for stamps for each time they build and return a new kit. Their picture is also taken with the kit if they wish and placed upon the wall in the children’s section of the library.
Once the passport book is full, the owner then receives a special Lego bracelet as a prize for a job well done.
The staff is tasked with breaking down the built kits upon returning, making sure even the tiniest pieces are disassembled and returned to the carrying cases, and that any missing pieces are logged.
Fun Truly for All
No parent wishes to tell their child no. But it’s no secret that Lego sets are expensive. They are also beloved by all children. Putting a set together is an unofficial rite-of-passage for children.
But not every parent can afford the large Lego sets. Not every parent can afford the smaller ones, either. The Lego to Go program provides an opportunity for every child to experience the joy of playing with Legos, and more than once.
Just look at some of the construction kits available. While the library doesn’t have the previously mentioned Hogwarts Castle, it does have a Harry Potter set, along with kits from Star Wars, Disney, Minecraft, Ninjago, and a host of other themed kits. There are also the Creator construction sets with allow for and provide instructions to build multiple items from the same pack.
There are some smaller, Tier 1 sets for the younger library patrons, but the majority of these sets would be $40 and greater if purchased retail.
Now every child, no matter their family’s financial situation, can join in on the fun.
“We’ve had a few sets donated, but most are purchased and we’re constantly looking for new sets to add to the collection and debut at a later date,” said Sarah Jacovety, assistant director of the library and the one who, along with Public Services Coordinator Emily Kessler, conduct most of the promotion and coordination of the program. “Legos are expensive and this allows everyone to participate and enjoy. You could spend a lot of money on one set, take it home, your child could put it together once, and then may not play with it again for a long time, if ever.”
Further Expanding of the Fun
Legos aren’t the only thing garnering the attention of youth members of the St. Clairsville Public Library.
An EQT Foundation grant has allowed the library to purchase a number of tech upgrades and equipment, including fully-outfitted gaming stations, VR headsets for virtual reality gaming, and even a 3D Printer.
The grants have also allowed the facility to hire-on Calvin Connor as a technology trainer, and he’s overseeing and assisting with all the new bells and whistles, so to speak, at the library.
It was recently announced that plans are in the works to start and E-Sports club and potentially field a team at the library on conjunction with the St. C. school district.
Locally, St. John Central Academy has an E-Sports team and one at St. Clairsville would provide some local competition, as well as potentially help fuel the interest in E-Sports locally.
“We’d like to get a club going based through the school where we could be the hub here with our equipment,” Walsh said, noting the school board has been in discussion about the very topic.”
He’s hoping to eventually see a full team practicing, and competing, at the library.
Speaking of gaming, another recent addition to the library is that of an Nintendo Switch that’s available to be checked out and used by patrons. There’s no up front security deposit for its use either, but those checking it out are responsible for the condition in which it’s brought back, the same agreement that library patrons operate under when borrowing a book.
For more information, visit the library online at www.stclibrary.org or visit the library’s Facebook page by searching for St. Clairsville Public Library.
