This sustainable 'Library of Things' allows people to rent anything they want or need

Any person who reads a lot might agree that the concept of libraries is an excellent idea. People can read as much as they like without caring about the costs. It is a sustainable practice that saves a lot of space and resources. It allows a person to read multiple books and return them instead of having to keep a book on their shelf even after its purpose is over. Now, can you imagine having all of these benefits for everything you might need, which are not books? It might be possible, per The Guardian.

An interesting model called the Library of Things (LoT) allows people to rent anything they might need and then return it when the purpose of the thing has been served. It can be anything from baby clothes, sports equipment, cameras and more. It has been catching people's attention, as a London-based Library of Things has been opened in three locations in the city in a year and there are plans to open two more. The co-founder of the LoT, Rebecca Trevalyan, told the outlet that it is their mission to make borrowing better than buying. "We really want to make rental go mainstream, make it more affordable, convenient and socially rewarding than buying something from Amazon," she added.

People use the services to buy items that fall into three categories: something that occupies a lot of space, something expensive, and a thing that people might be trying out to see if they want to buy. "An air fryer came in recently—there's been an air fryer craze, and we wanted to introduce it so that people could see if they really did want to buy one," Trevalyan shared. A key difference between a usual library and LoT is that such an institution charges money daily. For instance, a person borrowed a planer for two days, costing them 11 Euros a day to fix doors in her flat, while a handyman asked for 245 Euros for the repair work.

It is definitely an ideal service to use for tools that one might not use for months or years at the end. Trevalyan revealed carpet cleaner, followed by a cordless drill and a hand sander were the most popularly borrowed items. "In summer, we see a lot more garden items being used: strimmers, hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, tents for adventuring, ice cream makers and gazebos for barbecues," the co-founder added. It is great to borrow these things and return them as one would not have to worry about packing them up or keeping them away safely for the next year. 

Managing director of Barclaycard Payments, Linda Weston, pointed out, "Our data shows we're increasingly opting to shop second-hand, or rent items for a short period, rather than buying outright. The trend is permeating a range of sectors, from childcare to pet care and from fashion to fitness." The reason behind the shift, as per Weston, is the rising costs of living and an inclination towards more sustainable practices. The service allows people to learn skills like repair and DIY as well as acts as an "alternative circular economy," as per the London Post.

The LoTs have become an essential part of "Buy Nothing Groups" online, per WOUB. The idea behind such groups is to use community-based tools and services for something they would use only once or twice. There are also subscription services that allow people to borrow decoration items, photographs, paintings and more on a monthly payment basis. There is a wide range of things and payment options. All one needs to do is find a LoT near them and enquire.

You can follow the Library of Things (@library.of.things) on Instagram to learn more about it.