A new way to borrow, share and save arrives in Aberystwyth
It’s a Tuesday morning, and I’m staring at a battered metal shop sign. I want to restore it, which means giving it a strip and repaint. This is a one-off job as, strangely enough, I don’t often repair old shop signs.
It would be really handy if I could get hold of a heat gun to strip off all that old black paint. Now, of course, I could buy one. But I don’t really need it in my life forever. If only there was some sort of Library of Things locally where I could borrow one instead?
Eco Hub Aber’s new project: a lending library for useful items called a Library of Things will soon offer exactly that in Aberystwyth.
What is a Library of Things?
Libraries of Things have been taking the UK by storm ever since a small project started in 2014 in a West Norwood Library. It was inspired by other library lending projects across Europe including the Leila Project, a ‘borrowing shop’ in Berlin set up in 2012 and the Human Library in Copenhagen, where you can ‘borrow’ a person and hear intimate details of their life story.
The model has since evolved to include borrowing everything from DIY tools to sewing machines. It has grown world wide, with over 100 Libraries of Things in the UK alone, as listed on the Library of Things directory created by Ethical Consumer. The map shows more than 20 in Wales, including ones in Llanidloes and Camarthen. Wales even has its own organisation responsible for supporting new libraries of things called Benthyg Cymru who provide advice and resources.
A Practical and Sustainable Alternative
Libraries of Things are seen as an alternative to panic-buying overpriced, poorly-made items that end up in landfill. Instead, useful things like sewing machines, gazebos and drills are held in local spaces, catalogued and maintained by volunteers and staff. They can then be rented out at affordable prices for whatever one-off task is at hand. Each Library of Things looks different, but they always encourage local people to reuse before they buy. You might find exactly what you need in your local community, available for a small fee.
Neighbours Helping Neighbours
A Library of things can also be a place where neighbour helps neighbour, lending skills, information and encouragement as well as drill bits and crafting equipment.
Last Saturday at Aberystwyth Repair Cafe, the regular volunteers showed enthusiasm for the new project.
Volunteers Dave and Iestyn took a break from repairs, such as fixing a Freddie Mercury doll with a severe case of corrosion, to discuss the idea.
Dave said: ‘When you don’t need something often, it feels like you are forced into buying it for that one job. A library of things would mean we could borrow or hire it instead.’
Iestyn agreed: ‘Exactly. People might only need something for two or three hours a year. They buy new, stop using it and then it gathers dust and rust.’
Unused items can also create unwanted clutter in homes that are already struggling for space. Local maker Maeve Moran said: ‘I live in a small space and so I don’t have any extra things like drills. I have to use something like that maybe once a year so why buy one? It would be so useful to borrow one when I need it.’
Many of these sharing ideas already happen informally between friends and neighbours. This was joked about by two volunteers who use specialised electronic equipment. ‘I usually just ask him,’ one volunteer chuckled, pointing at his friend.
‘It would be good to formalise it, like the Repair Cafe, and have a first port of call where you know something is likely to be available,’ he added.
He looked back at his friend, ‘for the more specialised items I might continue to ask you!’
From Bolts to Hedge Trimmers
It’s not all about the big ticket power tools either. Another volunteer added: ‘Sometimes you only need a few screws or bolts but are forced into buying a whole bag. It would be great to know there was somewhere to donate the rest and check the library first before buying anything new.’
Eco Hub Aber asked people what they’d like to borrow or donate. The responses showed many requests for hedge trimmers as well as votes for festival lighting, event decorations, sound equipment and gardening tools. This showed a clear local interest in both gardening and parties. The good news is gazebos, tables and other event equipment can already be borrowed for a small fee from Aberystwyth Town Council. They also have free litter picking equipment available.
Eco Hub Aber’s Kate Roth said: ‘I think a library of things is exactly what this town needs. It stops people having to spend money unnecessarily and saves on space and clutter for people living in shared accommodation or one-bed flats. Instead of buying an item to use once a year, they can have this big lovely library of things to access whenever they need.’
Get Involved
Aberystwyth’s Library of Things will be opening soon. To share ideas, help out, donate an item, or sign up, click here.
The Repair Café and the research into the Aberystwyth Library of Things is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
