A seed library is an organized collection of seeds from which users may “check out” small amounts to take home and plant. Since returning them later as with books and other traditional library media would be quite impossible, patrons may instead “return” borrowed seeds by saving and donating some from the plants grown from their initial borrowed sample.
Seeds are a form of information, and seed libraries are often housed in public, academic, and school libraries. They often prioritize collection of local and heirloom seed varieties over hybrid ones more commonly commercially available.
The Seed Library at UNC-Chapel Hill is located in the Kenan Science Library Makerspace. Seeds, books, and related tools are available for borrowing. The Seed Library offers an assortment of open-pollinated vegetable, ornamental, and herb varieties.
The Kenan Science Library Makerspace Seed Library operates as a free-to-use, hands-on educational resource to enable the UNC-Chapel Hill community to learn about gardening, seed-saving, and native plant life. The Seed Library strives to provide users with the materials and informational resources necessary to get started with home gardening, and to preserve via circulation varieties of heirloom and native plants.
The Seed Library at UNC-Chapel Hill is located in the Kenan Science Library Makerspace, on the ground floor of Venable Hall near the courtyard. It's right next to the 3D printers!