Nov. 17--Passers-by may begin to hear the gentle plinking of ukulele strings from the Highland Park Public Library.
Beginning this month, library cardholders can check out the petite string instruments that commonly evoke Hawaiian beach bonfires and crashing waves. Patrons 8 and older can borrow the instrument and accompanying training materials for a couple of weeks, no lei or experience necessary.
This marriage of library and ukulele isn't so farfetched. In recent years, the instrument seems to have spiked in popularity, inspiring countless YouTube videos and enthusiast clubs across the country. And many libraries, meanwhile, have worked to creatively evolve, experts say, finding new ways to serve their communities while staying true to their core values.
Libraries are lending a lot more than books these days, said Chad Clark, Highland Park's new-media librarian. And that's not some gimmicky attempt to stay relevant, he said.
"It's more about getting back to the roots and providing experiential opportunities for the community," Clark said. "The mission of libraries has never been about getting the latest mystery novel and getting 400 copies so everyone who wants one can have one."
Clark, 36, happens to play the ukulele, along with the guitar, mandolin and bass guitar. He said he pitched the ukulele program idea to executive director Jane Conway after noticing the success of recent music programming at the library.
As a sort of kickoff, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will make an appearance and perform at the library at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday before he plays the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie that night.
Shimabukuro's 2006 version of George Harrison's classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which has been viewed more than 13 million times on YouTube, made him famous and provided an eye-opening primer on what's possible on the ukulele.
Reaching out to Shimabukuro was a "shot in the dark," Clark admitted. But once he agreed, the library bought 10 ukuleles for circulation, plus one more for reserve, at a discounted rate from a nearby guitar store.
The beauty of the ukulele, Clark said, is that it's durable, relatively easy to play, appealing to different age groups and fun.
"It's really hard to play something minor and depressing on a ukulele," Clark said.
As it turns out, the Portland Public Library in Maine started its own ukulele program last year. Portland has a vibrant arts and music scene, said Sarah Campbell, that library's associate director, and the library complements that with its own programming.
Portland's ukulele program grew out of its teen department, piggybacking off the instrument's surging popularity as a way to connect people through music, Campbell said.
"This isn't just Tiny Tim playing 'Tiptoe through the Tulips,'" Campbell said.
Libraries, in general, are undergoing what Campbell calls "a major transformation" as they look to provide experiences in addition to books.
This transformation was born of necessity, said Sari Feldman, president-elect of the American Library Association. In many ways, new digital technologies and shifts in consumer habits forced libraries to look toward the future.
"We envision the future of libraries is really going to be about what we do for people and the experiences they have in our spaces," Feldman said.
Clark recalled a stirring folk music performance at the Highland Park library in honor of Pete Seeger, shortly after the folk legend died this year. It was a packed house; people sang and clapped together.
It was enough to give Clark both goose bumps and confidence in his ukulele idea.
"And as we move into new and exciting directions," the librarian said, "our collection, rather than for the people, is becoming more of the people."
