How a “Library of Things” is helping Mosman and North Sydney residents share household items.

By JACK KELLY

Feeling the pinch? Trying to save some money? Then why not consider borrowing instead of buying?

The Sydney Library of Things, a volunteer organisation run by north shore residents Jacky Barker, Bridget Kennedy and Carol Skyring is a budget-friendly way to loan the things we only use every-so-often.

“We are a library, but with no books. It’s all about things,” Jacky Barker told Mosman Collective.

“We have a huge number of items to borrow that range from party gear, garden tools, kitchen items, camping items … basically things that you use once in a blue moon.”

The business was founded on the concepts of sustainability and affordability, to ensure fewer items went to landfill and could be repurposed at minimal cost.

“It’s a great way to save money and a really good way of making sure that we reuse items instead of throwing them into landfill.”

The idea started in the US and has made its way through the UK and now to Australia where there are now about 30 stores around the country.

So far, with one Sydney Library of Things operating in Waverton, another in Lane Cove and plans to expand to other councils, the local community response has been positive.

When Mosman Collective visited this week, we met locals taking full advantage of the service, mainly for financial reasons.

“I’m coming here to get a water gurney,” one man told us, “It’s an excellent opportunity to use it at home for a short period of time and not have to worry about storing it away and taking up a lot of space.”

Another woman borrowed an ice cream maker for her child’s birthday party.

“I was actually wanting to rent an ice cream maker, I looked online and found that the Library of Things had one,” she said.

“It’s a win-win for me, and for the kids who will be eating home made ice cream!”

The Library of Things receives most of its products through donations, but resourcefulness also comes into play.

“We have a system where we can repair things that we’ve picked up from the side of the road so we can restore that item or even in some cases make one item out of two pieces we’ve found,” Jacky said.

The Waverton library can be found at The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability and operates on Saturdays from 9 am-12 pm.

The store in Lane Cove is located at 47 Burns Bay Rd and is open Thursday nights from 6 pm-8 pm.

Joining the club costs $80 a year, and members can borrow up to five items every two weeks.

There is also the option to sign up for six months at a reduced price.

Customers can browse what ‘things’ are in stock via their website and then reserve the item for pick up.

So, if you want to break the burying cycle but not the bank, visit your local Library of Things and see what treasures you can find.

Visit the Library of Things.