You can borrow everything from a sewing machine to ice-cream maker at the Library Of Things
Where can you borrow a sewing machine, ice-cream maker or a ukelele? Dawn Geddes finds out!
WITH many feeling the squeeze in the current economic climate, more and more of us are turning our hands to DIY, gardening and sewing to avoid paying someone else to do the job.
While in theory this should save us money, getting our hands on decent equipment to allow us to do the work can be incredibly costly. But, thanks to a new borrowing initiative based in Crystal Palace called the “Library of Things”, Londoners now have a brilliant alternative!
“The Library of Things is a place where you can borrow useful and joyful things at affordable prices,” Alys Penfold, who manages the library, explains. “It costs £1 to join the Library, and once you’re a member you’re able to borrow on a day-to-day basis.
“A lot of the objects that we have on offer are items that you probably wouldn’t have the room to store, which is particularly a problem in London, where people live in such small spaces.
“But, through the library, you can just borrow items when you need them.
“Borrowing instead of buying doesn’t only save you money, it prevents items from gathering dust at the back of your cupboard, too.”
The project was initially set up by a group of students who were living in small box rooms in the city.
They realised that it was silly to buy big items like steam cleaners and sewing machines when they could just share them instead.
Inspired by similar borrowing shops around the world – including Leila in Berlin, and the Toronto Tool Library – they eventually found a permanent site for their project in Upper Norwood Library Hub last April.
There, the Library houses a variety of items, from practical tools and equipment to fun objects.
“We have five different categories of items that can be loaned,” Alys says. “We have a ‘DIY’ section, which includes items like drills, saws, screwdrivers and hammers.
“‘Adventuring and Hobbying’ offers lots of really fun things, like a
Gopro camera and a ukulele. ‘Cooking and Hosting’ includes ice-cream makers and a speaker that you might use for a party.
“Our ‘Cleaning’ category includes a steam cleaner and a pressure washer. We also have a ‘Gardening’ section, which has lots of handheld tools like spades and forks, but also lawn mowers and hedge trimmers.”
The cost of hire ranges from £1 for items such as a pair of secateurs to £20 for a carpet cleaner, with concessionary rates available for those who need them.
One of the major advantages of borrowing items is that they come with everything you need to operate them, such as cleaning tablets or sanding sheets.
The project also provides borrowers with the skills and knowledge they need to operate the equipment, too.
“We run regular events for borrowers where we teach them new skills. For example, we run repair parties, where people bring along their broken possessions and then fix them with the help of a volunteer.
“We also do the same things with clothes, where people bring along their damaged clothes, or trousers that need taken up, and then mend them together. It’s great fun.
“The classes are all led by local volunteers who want to share their skills with the community.
“It’s great to have that social element, too, so anyone that is feeling isolated can come along to these events and meet other people in their area.”
Library of Things has already attracted more than 750 members in the short time it has been operating in Crystal Palace.
“We’ve received really great feedback, too. Crystal Palace Transition Town did a crowd-funding campaign to raise over £9,000 to help create the Library, which was brilliant. So many local people donated their time and money to the campaign, and it really helped raise awareness of the Library. By the time we officially opened, we already had reservations in place, and it’s popularity has just grown from there.”
Although the initiative is currently only operating from one site, Alys says that there are firm plans to open more.
“In the next three years we plan to open another nine sites across London. We’re hoping to open more centres in libraries, community centres and churches. Although we’re initially focusing on London, the dream is to eventually see a Library of Things opening up on every street corner.
“It’s such a great addition to any town – people can borrow things at really affordable prices, and sharing with your neighbours really helps to build community relationships, too.” ■