Like many of you reading, I’ve got a cupboard stuffed with only once-used items collecting dust. There’s the iron I bought for a friend’s wedding, garden sheers I used to trim back a few tree branches, and a drill that’s helped me put up exactly one bookshelf. But what if there was a better way?
Well, there is, and you’ve probably already heard of it – because everyone in this city is already crazy about Share Bristol’s Library of Things concept. With locations already in Kingswood and Bedminster, a third location is likely to open in north Bristol soon. Share Bristol has set up a Crowdfunder to establish a Library of Things in Frenchay.
The small charity has successfully run a Library of Things on Kingswood High Street since 2021 but opened a new location on East Street this June. More recently, they announced the launch of the Bedminster Community Hub in partnership with Bristol City Council and WECA. They’ve now secured a ‘match fund’ from Aviva Community Fund – for every pound you donate, Aviva will donate a pound – to launch in north Bristol.
How does a Library of Things work?
It works a lot like a normal library. You need an annual membership (which costs £50 per year) and then everything is free to borrow. Many of the most popular summer items were things like tents and other camping gear, strimmers, lawnmowers, pressure washers, and gazebos, alongside year-round favourites like carpet cleaners and drills.
There are also concession memberships for people receiving benefits at £20 for a year. And, with over 1500 things available across the current two sites, the offerings continue to grow – adding around 100 new items to the Library of Things catalogue each month over the summer.
There are now over 600 Bristol households signed up as members of Share Bristol’s Library of Things, a number which has more than doubled since April this year. Borrowing rates reached new highs too, with 422 loans checked out in July. Donate to support this new Library of Things in Frenchay via the Crowdfunder today and claim membership as one of the rewards. You can do this by heading here.