Hold it right there, Londoners. Before you head off to Argos to buy yet another thing that will end up getting precariously shoved into that full-to-bursting storage cupboard of yours, have a listen to this. There are libraries dotted across the capitalfrom which you can borrow all manner of household objects to save you from having to buy them yourself. And to save you from having to dodge them when they inevitably come toppling out the moment you open the doors of that aforementioned jam-packed cupboard.
The Library of Things offers Londoners the chance to get their hands on the random tools, gadgets, and household items they need, in a far more sustainable way than buying them brand new. From camping gear and carpet cleaners to party supplies and pressure washers; the Library of Things is packed full with handy items to borrow at affordable prices. And with 19 libraries now scattered across the city; it’s never been more convenient to borrow rather than buy.
The Library of Things is a social enterpriseworking hard to redefine ownership, consumption, and sustainability. With the likes of a drill being used for an average of just 3 minutes a year; borrowing instead of buying brand new is not just good for your bank account and your cluttered cupboards; but the planet, too.
Credit: @blackhorsemills
How does the Library of Things work?
Well, it works a lot like a normal library, really. You have a rummage around for the item you need, and you borrow it. Simple. Although it’s all done online, rather than inside an actual library. Even more simple, right? You head to their website, sign up for an annual membership (which costs £50 for the year), reserve the item you’d like to borrow, and pop to your local Library of Things to pick it up. There are a whole host of items to choose from (different depending on your location), and over 60% of the items available cost less than £10 a day to borrow.
Over the past five years, over 400 different items have been tested across various communities in London to workout which are the most useful to people. Each time a Library of Things opens in a new area, locals are asked to vote for the items that they’d most want to see available, and new items can be requested. Library of Things have built solid relationships with the likes of Bosch, STIHL and Kärcher, to ensure that the items they’re lending are of the highest quality possible.
Credit: @wclibrariesandarchives via Instagram
From Woolwich, Wandsworth and Westminster to Hammersmith, Hackney, and a whole host of spots in between; the Library of Things is the perfect way to cut down on clutter, save yourself some pennies, and do your bit for the environment. What more could you ask for, hey?
Find out more about London’s Library of Things, and find your nearest library here.
