Seed Lending Library

The Urbana Free Library is now accepting saved seeds from your garden to get a new collection started! As Library staff gets the Seed Lending Library on its feet, we are only accepting seed this season for “super easy” seed saver plants: tomatoes, herbs, peas, beans, peppers, and lettuces.

If you’re unfamiliar with seed lending, the basic idea is that you plant the seeds, grow the plants, let some go to seed, and then return some of these next-generation seeds for others to borrow. You can get started by checking out books on seed saving from the Library’s collection!

To add seeds that you have saved or purchased to the collection, bring them to the Circulation Desk on the first floor. Please fill out as much of the information on the envelope as you can, put in enough seed to grow at least five plants, and return the envelope to Circulation staff. You do not need to have a library card to donate seeds or ‘borrow’ seeds in the spring.

Our intention is to grow more local seed for the benefit of the entire community. In the spring, the Seed Lending Library will be up and running for community members to be able to take seeds and grow their own plants. If you have ideas about how you’d like to see the Seed Lending Library develop, or have any questions, please email us at reference@urbanafree.org with the subject “Seed Lending Library.”