Check out baking pans from the library!?!

7 years ago

Just read this and wanted to share this. The article indicates that this is something a number of local libraries offer - going back decades in at lest one case.

https://www.marthastewart.com/syndication/specialty-baking-pans-philadelphia-library?

"...In the firehose of words that is Twitter, occasionally (very occasionally!), interesting tidbits about life find their way through. One example comes from journalist Annemarie Dooling who recently tweeted a photo of a library in the Philadelphia area—specifically, the Ludington Library in Lower Merion—where people can check out specialty baking pans for a week at a time.

The tweet has generated quite a response, racking up over 57,000 likes and another nearly 5,000 retweets. But perhaps more importantly, it also opened up a discussion about how baking pans at libraries may not be as uncommon as it might sound. (In fact, all the non-book things you can find at libraries may surprise you.)

The Akron-Summit County Public Library responded with its own photo, writing, "We lend cake pans, kitchen tools, and artwork!" And in a less official capacity, someone replied to Dooling's post, writing, "You can do that in Brookline, MA, too." Apparently, according to other responses, the same goes for the Coffey County libraries in Kansas and plenty of other more vague places like "Central VT."..."

Haven't seen that at our libraries here, but I like it! Article also suggests donating your unused bakeware might be a possibility for those in areas with such library services.

Featured Answer

party_music50

7 years ago

Never heard of checking out baking pans, but one of the libraries near here allows people to check out snowshoes. :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

plllog
7 years ago
PM, consider me boggled! There must be an interesting history to snowshoes!

The specialty baking pans makes sense. Perhaps they were gotten from an estate when a great baker passed on, or maybe the women's groups took a collection of pennies in lean times and bought the bakeware that everybody wanted to use once or twice per year, and the lending system already in use at the library seemed like the best way to house and distribute them. I can think of more ways it could have started as well.

As far as I know, the local libraries have books, periodicals and recordings, including digital. I wouldn't be surprised if there were small art things too. There are other programs that lend other things, from toys to bicycles, but not from the library.
Related Discussions
baking pan question...
Q
Comments (9)
Your actual question, I think, was what size pan you've got. Pans are measured across the bottom--so your pan is an 8 X 8. Many have tapered sides, that shouldn't make a huge difference in your recipe. And don't forget--cooking times and temps are just guidelines anyway. Not all ovens are accurately calibrated--more important that you read the instructions on how to tell when the brownies are done, and take them out at the correct stage of doneness, regardless of how long they baked.
...See More
Need advice - Baking a cake in a loaf pan
Q
Comments (15)
Recipe below. Natal, I've never had the need to flour a cake pan. Is there a reason to flour them? I also detest the taste of flour on a cake. Are the pans floured just to get the cake out of the pan? I usually don't do that, but if so, then I'll flour it tomorrow. Amy said to spray the parchment paper, so I'm going to do that just to be on the safe side. :) Red Velvet Cake 1 box White Cake Mix 1 small box Instant Chocolate Pudding 2 c. Milk 2 Eggs 1 small bottle Red Food Coloring 1/4 c. Oil Mix these ingredients well. Mix together 1 T. Vinegar 1 t. Baking Soda Add the above to the batter. Beat well. Bake in 2 round cake pans or a 9 x 13 cake pan, at 350. Frosting recipe below. Back to baking the cake, this is when it gets tricky. This cake can fall if you're not careful. For round cake pans, it generally takes about 20-30 min., until toothpick comes out clean. For a 9 x 13 pan, it could take up to 45-50 minutes. When the cake looks done, crusted around the edges, very GENTLY take it out of the oven and do toothpick check. I mean you have to be very gentle. I learned the hard way. lol. Frosting: 8 oz. softened Cream Cheese 1 stick softened Butter 1 t. Vanilla 1 lg. bag Powdered Sugar or to consistency..you want it thick but not too thick you can't stir it. Mix all together and spread on cooled cake. Sprinkle with coconut if desired. If you make a 9 x 13, you'll have a lot of frosting left, even if you put it on thick. And you want to put the frosting on thick! This cake is so rich & heavy and when you eat it you'll think you've died and gone to Heaven. No kidding! You'll see why it won a blue ribbon!
...See More
on Pinterest--and a way to store baking pans!
Q
Comments (10)
Wow! I love that too.... We are constantly in a kerfluffle over measuring utensils. And the sad fact is that nowadays the printed cup size fades away, and then we are lost and our recipes turn out badly. It is only a broken handle that distinguishes between the 1/3 cup and 1/4 cup measures. I am definitely going to find a door, hooks and put my label maker to good use once more. The insides of cupboard doors are great hiding places for those of us who rely on vertical surfaces as we try to keep the flat ones clear. Thank you, Tally, for starting this thread. I love your Nerf gun rack (have we seen that picture before?). Mustangs, that picture is fabulous. Thanks again for posting it!
...See More
Unglazed stoneware loaf pan - baking bread in it?
Q
Comments (5)
Ugh, no wonder it was in the back of the shed! I'm so lazy, my enthusiasm for all of that might not be there. Since I already have the romertopf for bread, I might put this one in with the "donate to Goodwill" pile. Or I could try it a couple of times with greased parchment paper. Thanks for the tips though!! Very helpful! I appreciate very much that you took time to answer!
...See More
rockypointdog
7 years ago
Great idea. I have never even thought of checking the library for that. There are definitely things that I don't bake because I don't want to buy/store a specialty pan for an item that I will bake only once, or very rarely.
naturegirl_2007 5B SW Michigan
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Our library loans bicycles with helmets at many branches near bike trails, but no baking pans that I know about.

Edit: Oops, no helmets, only the bikes
foodonastump
7 years ago
I just looked it up, found an article about interesting things libraries here on LI loan out. Beach chairs and sand toys in the Hamptons, museum passes, American Girl dolls... and yes baking pans! Not near me, and it seems limited to cartoon character shaped. Great idea.
bpath
7 years ago
A library near me lends out Roku, GoPro, Kindles each Loaded with a genre. My library as a kid lent out artwork! Lending specialty cookware is a great idea, since we already have a cookbook club, that meets to talk about and present dishes made from certain types of cookbooks.
annie1992
7 years ago
Our local library lends out canning equipment like jar lifters and wire baskets for scalding fruit, both pressure and hot water bath canners, the Ball Blue Book and they have a community garden behind the library. They also have a seed library where you can take whatever you need, and they ask that you bring back seeds for the next year, it doesn't have to be the same kind you checked out.

No baking pans, though...

Annie
annie1992
7 years ago
I tried to edit, but of course, that doesn't work. I wanted to add that you can also check out "knit kits" and they have knitting nights twice a month, with "experts" there to help beginners. No baking pans, though...

Annie
agmss15
7 years ago
There was just a story about a library here (Maine) that just started lending outdoor gear.
party_music50
7 years ago
These lending items are awesome! I imagine the most popular cake pans would be the specialty characters and shapes required for kids' birthday cakes! I remember hand-shaping a Gumby one year. lol!
graywings123
7 years ago
I read about a library somewhere in the US that loaned out garden equipment. These are all great ideas.
bragu_DSM 5
7 years ago
I wanna go to Florida and see if they have an everglades boat I can check out ...
Nancy 6b
7 years ago
People donate seeds and out library gives them out. I was quite surprised in the last year the loan sewing machines and a few musical instruments.

Check out baking pans from the library!?!

party_music50

Comments (13)

plllog

Related Discussions

rockypointdog

naturegirl_2007 5B SW Michigan

foodonastump

bpath

annie1992

annie1992

agmss15

party_music50

graywings123

bragu_DSM 5

Nancy 6b

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US