Media equipment check out

Lending libraries have always served to socialize the cost barriers to knowledge production, and this awesome purpose shouldn't be limited to traditional library materials. Media equipment--SLR cameras, audio recording, GPS units, projectors, etc--are widely used in academic projects but require departmental inventory or significant out of pocket expense. A short term rental system would democratize possibilities for media production and experimentation. Yale's Bass Library has an exemplary, high-circulation system (including an online catalog, equipment training, and liability policies) which could inspire a much more comprehensive system at MIT.