A new seeds library is now available at the Monroe County Public Library. Residents may pick out various types of non-invasive, non-GMO food and flower seeds to take home and plant.

Library officials say they were looking at ideas on how to expand their existing garden services.

Jane Cronkhite, associate director at the Monroe County Library, says the library approached the George E. Archer Foundation to help fund the project.

She says the seeds library will make gardening more accessible to people in the community.

“There’s all different types of literacy, so learning about food, learning how to grow your own food is another type of literacy," she says.

Cronkhite says the seeds are free and the program is available to anyone, even non-members.

Monroe County Library's main branch has a garden outside the children's wing.

Cronkhite says the Seeds Library is part of a Library of Things collection.

"It's things people may not know that the library has to offer," Cronkhite says.

These include items like ukuleles, mobile hotspots, and toys in the children's section.

The Elletsville branch also recently recieved funding to begin garden programming. The funding will go toward raised garden beds and a bench.