The Pima County Public Library system was one of the first in the nation in 2012 when it began to circulate seeds, says High Country News, an approach patterned on the traditional lending library that makes books available to readers. “Aspiring gardeners can look up varieties electronically, put seeds on reserve and check out 10 packs at a time.”
Branch libraries offer support as well as seeds — gardening classes, brochures “and, of course, books,” says the magazine. “Now, five years in, Pima County librarians hope more growers will start bringing back seeds from the plants they grew, making the collection stronger and better adapted to local conditions over time.”
About 40 percent of the seeds distributed by the library come from local growers. There is no requirement to return seeds, yet Betsy Langley, the librarian who oversees the project, says “there are definitely some people who are just amazing and donate a lot back.”
High Country News says, “The idea for a seed library came from sellers at a local farmers’ market; librarians quickly realized they already had the infrastructure in place. What’s more, Tucson is home to Native Seeds/SEARCH, a globally known regional seed saving organization that specializes in conserving and sharing desert-adapted landraces.”