The Lopez Island Library was recently mentioned in the New York Times for its unique lending program.

“Library usage has increased across the country for a variety of reasons, librarians say, including the recession, the availability of new technology and because libraries have been re-imagining themselves — a necessity for staying relevant as municipal budgets are slashed and e-books are on the rise. The Lopez Island Library  in Washington State offers musical instruments for checkout,” wrote Times reporter Katharine Q. Seelye.