You can now borrow surfboards, saucepans and spanners at the library

Geelong Regional Libraries lend mobile scanners that allow you to digitise precious family photos.

Cowell said many libraries now have “makerspaces” for people to create things on site, some boasting 3D printers which can be used to make a screw or spare parts, or even create figurines.

Leanne Williams is chief executive of the Myli – My Community Library network which manages 18 libraries east of Melbourne. She said the surfboards, stored at Wonthaggi, Inverloch and San Remo libraries,…