It is distinguished from a seedbank in that the main purpose is not to store or hold germplasm or seeds against possible destruction, but to disseminate them to the public which preserves the shared plant varieties through propagation and further sharing of seed.
[2] Since then, the number of seed libraries has grown to over 450 across the globe, with most being established in the United States.
Seed packets are usually located next to everyday circulated items like books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs.
[9] or as membership based online programs like the Hudson Valley Seed Library.
[11] Other libraries, like the Live Oak Public Library in, Live Oak, Florida, ask that borrowers return seeds if possible but there is no penalty for not doing so, and they will not accept hybrid or GMO seeds.