News / South Bristol
Bristol gets its first ‘Library of Things’
In a first for Bristol, a Library of Things has opened as a way to help people save money and reduce waste by sharing common items.
The social enterprise celebrates a unique concept of living sustainably through borrowing rather than buying, with charity Share Bristol behind the initiative.
At a launch event on Wednesday evening, BBC Radio Bristol breakfast presenter Joe Sims cut the ribbon and was cheered on by about 70 people at the new base in the old Shoezone at the entrance to St Catherine’s Place on East Street.
The Bedminster shop follows the success of the same innovative scheme in Kingswood.
The Library of Things by Share Bristol in Bedminster has over 200 listed items for borrowing
After paying a one-time annual membership fee, members at the library can borrow as many items as they like from a catalogue.
Breaking down how it works, Anna Perry, a trustee at Share Bristol, told Bristol24/7: “In order to borrow from, you sign up for a membership which lasts for a year. So it’s £50 if you’re working, £20 if you’re on benefits or £80 pounds if you want to support the charity.”
“That allows you to borrow as much as you want, whenever you want for free. So you can come and borrow ten things every week, different things every week and there’s no more cost you unless of course you bring it back late.”
The library already has more than 200 items listed for borrowing with Perry saying there are “stacks of donated things” waiting to be added to the library.
The new shop is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Perry explained that donations are made as people want others to be able to use their items.
Sharing one such story, she said: “There are people like Martin, who donated some camping equipment and loads of stuff that was just sitting in his shed and he was really concerned about the environment, that he wanted stuff to be used and not just sitting degrading in his shed.”
“So he donated some really great stuff to Share Bristol, and he’s really happy because you can see it’s being used.”
Items in the library include kitchenware, camping equipment, hardware tools and more.
Members can also browse and borrow items through their website.
Perry called the launch event “amazing”. “We had about 70 people from the local Bedminster, Southville and Windmill Hill area and people from further afield who just wanted to see what we’re all about and what we’re doing there.”
All photos: Titch Photographic
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