photo by: Kathy Hanks

William Ottens, Lawrence Public Library’s cataloging and collection development coordinator, displays the library's new button maker on Monday, March 18, 2019.

Pinned to William Ottens’ lanyard is a small button that says something about him: “I like cats.”

“It’s a great conversation starter,” said Ottens, the Lawrence Public Library’s cataloging and collection development coordinator.

For those interested in wearing their own personalized statement, a button maker is now available in the library’s downstairs technology department. It’s free to borrow, but the button maker can’t leave the building, and can only be used two hours at a time.

“Not everyone can afford a button maker, but they may want buttons,” Ottens said.

The machine, recently purchased for $250 by the nonprofit Friends of the Lawrence Public Library, can be checked out at the tech desk.

The button maker is part of the “library of things” concept that has become popular across the country in recent years, Ottens said. Libraries are beginning to check out everything from popcorn machines to sewing machines. Locally, patrons can already check out laptops, board games and light-therapy boxes.

If you are interested in making buttons, you can bring your own supplies or purchase them at the tech desk — $1 for 10 buttons and $2 for 25. Blank templates can be downloaded and printed from the library’s website lplks.org.

A laminated set of instructions comes with the machine. Plus, Ottens said, an instructional video is available on the website. For those who need personal help, a one-on-one learning session can be booked through the library’s technology department.