Regina Public Library looks to strike a chord with musical instrument loan program

If you're looking to learn to play a musical instrument but can't necessarily afford to shell out a few hundred dollars for one, you're in luck.

You can now borrow instruments from the Regina Public Library for free.

People will be able to walk into either the Central or Sherwood branches, book a guitar (or other instrument) and practise for three weeks under the Sun Life Financial Instrument Lending program. All you need is a library card.

People can try their hand at guitar, mandolin, bongos or violin, among other choices. There will be about 150 instruments available for use, the majority located at the Central Library.

When the three-week period is up, users have the option to extend the loan for another three weeks, as long as no one else has booked the instrument in the meantime.

"That's really what our mission statement is, is to help the people of Regina grow and learn and have diversity in their learning and it's very important. It's our raison d'tre," said Sean Quinlan, chair of the board of directors for Regina Public Library.

Sun Life Financial is making a donation of $140,000 to Regina Public Library to fund the program's operating costs and donating 150 instruments, the company said in a media release.

Regina is the eighth Canadian city to become part of the program.

The library is also taking donations of instruments, if you have any extras lying around.

The Central branch is taking bookings now and the Sherwood branch's instrument loan program will be up and running in a few weeks, Quinlan said.