Hot topic: Patrons check out induction cooktops
American Libraries, (2024)Induction cooktops; Library of things; Public libraries; Sustainability.Abstract
When the existing gas range in his home began to malfunction, Brian Bunk (lecturer at University of Massachusetts Amherst) considered replacing it with an induction stove. That decision, he says, was due in part to concerns about indoor air quality and a desire to switch to a more environmentally friendly appliance. Bunk was able to test this technology through a new program at Forbes Library (FL) in Northampton, Massachusetts. In February 2023, the library began lending induction cooktops for cardholders to try at home. Librarians agree that the accessories and educational materials allow patrons to get the most out of testing this cooking method. Sunnyvale (Calif.) Public Library (SPL), for instance, has already had nearly 300 checkouts of its induction cooktops since the beginning of the program in March 2021.