Chris Rosenblum: Centre County libraries’ new ukulele program has residents strumming

Just the mellifluous sound of the word evokes fun.

Ukuleles bring to mind lighthearted, carefree moments — looking out from a porch into a summer evening, hearing a jaunty song drifting along a tropical breeze.

If that strikes a chord with you, perhaps you could try plunking a few of your own.

All you have to do is head to your local library.

That’s right: You can indulge your inner Tiny Tim simply with a card account and a desire to learn. Centre County Library branches and Schlow Centre Region Library each have two genuine Ohana ukuleles for anyone to check out, courtesy of The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective.

Last year, the Altoona-based club began its Uke Library Lending Program, teaming with regional libraries to make ukulele kits as available to the public as books, magazines, CDs and DVDs. Each kit consists of a soprano ukulele, gig bag, tuner and chord book with a demonstration CD.

Apparently, they’ve been something of a local hit. Since their debut about six weeks ago, library ukuleles haven’t collected dust. Laura Sarge, the Centre County Library programming and outreach librarian, has seen the Bellefonte branch’s red and woodgrain models go home with several children and adults.

“Ukuleles are trendy now,” she said. “A lot of people are looking for something new, and it’s easy to pick up.”

Perhaps local demand was fueled in part by the 2013 State Theatre performance of Jake Shimabukuro, a virtuoso ukulele player from Hawaii who plays stunning renditions of rock, jazz, bluegrass and classical pieces that explode conventional notions of the instrument. Another shining example of playing came from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, an all-ukulele ensemble formed in 1985 that appeared at Eisenhower Auditorium last fall.

The influence of ukulele-playing celebrities such as actress and indie singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel also might be spurring interest.

But whatever the case, Schlow’s ukuleles — one pink and the other blue — currently have eight holds between them. At each library, patrons can borrow a ukulele for a week, with up to two renewals if no holds are on the instrument. The moral of the story: Don’t delay if you’re interested. It’s not like waiting for a Grange Fair tent, but it might take some time before you’re strumming.

Sarge picked up her first ukulele, a gift, three years ago. She quickly learned a few songs to play for children at library story times, and now enjoys playing as “a stress reliever.”

“It’s really just fun to play once you start getting into it,” she said.

With the ukulele’s small neck and four strings, she said, it’s not hard to learn a few basic chords, especially with the abundance of online instructional videos.

“That builds your confidence,” Sarge said. “Once you learn a little song, you say, ‘Hey, I’m playing music.’ ”

Schlow staff member Kayley Holdridge already played guitar when she took advantage of the lending program to expand her musical horizons. During lulls at the check-out desk, she sometimes pulls out a ukulele, if one’s available, and performs an impromptu concert.

“I just enjoy being able to find songs I can play, and I’ve always loved music,” she said. “It’s nice to have that at work. And playing them is a great advertisement for them. People hear them and say, ‘Oh, you have ukuleles.’ ”

Before you try your hand at one, however, remember a couple of points.

With a library card, you can reserve a ukulele at any of the county’s public libraries, but there’s a catch. You have to go to them rather than the other way around. Unlike books, ukuleles do not ship well enough for inter-library loans.

Second, be a good ukulele steward. Everything’s provided for hours of enjoyment, but if the instrument must be replaced, the fine is a steep $170.

That’s why the libraries ask patrons to treat the ukuleles respectfully — no stuffing them in drop boxes after hours.

“We prefer they return them in person so they don’t smashed,” Sarge said.

So far, local patrons have an unblemished record, which bodes well for a commendable program. Shelling out even $50 for a used ukulele just to try it out would be an unaffordable luxury for many individuals and families.

But thanks to a generous ukulele club, musical instruments are now a public resource here, available to all regardless of income — another reason to count our blessings for a community that values the arts.

“It’s making music accessible to anyone,” said Anita Ditz, head of children’s services at Schlow.

Who knows? Maybe the next Shimabukoro has a hold on his or her future.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Chris Rosenblum: Centre County libraries’ new ukulele program has residents strumming."