Have you ever made music using bananas?

Ever played a video game with Play-Doh?

No? Don’t worry, the Oxford Public Library can make it happen with a unique new item for its patrons.

Last week, folks of all ages got to test out Makey Makey: An Invention Kit for Everyone.

“This is the newest addition to our random stuff collection,” said Librarian Assistant Ricardo Aguirre. “They’ll be able to check it out starting in July.”

Makey Makey is an invention kit that allows users to take everyday objects and connect them to computer programs.

“It’s basically just a small circuit board that you can use to control your computer,” Aguirre explained. “It allows you to take anything that conducts electricity – fruit, Play-Doh, gummy worms, tin foil, (pencil) graphite – and create various touch pads to control your computer.”

A Makey Makey kit consists of a circuit board, alligator clips, wires and a USB cable. It uses these items to create and send closed-loop electrical signals to a computer, which thinks they’re coming from the usual sources – a keyboard or mouse.

The result is a lot fun.

“If you have a music program, you can play the piano (using) bananas (as keys). Or you can play video games (like Pac-Man) using Play-Doh controllers,” Aguirre said. “It will basically work for anything that you use the arrow keys on your computer for.”

According to the Makey Makey website, “It works with all programs and webpages because all programs and webpages take keyboard and mouse input.”

The website also states that “any material that can conduct at least a tiny bit of electricity will work” with Makey Makey. Examples given included ketchup, finger paint, lemons, “most foods,” plants, “anything that is wet,” coins, “cats and dogs,” silverware and “your grandma.”

Right now, the library has just one Makey Makey kit in its random stuff collection, which consists of items such as games, puzzles and cake pans.

“If it’s really popular, we might get a second kit,” Aguirre said.

The library is located at 530 Pontiac Rd.

It’s open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit the library’s website miopl.org or call (248) 628-3034.