New Library of Things offers help in 'tough times'

A new Library of Things will "reduce waste" and help people struggling for money, organisers say.

It will operate from Beeston Library in Nottinghamshire and open in the coming weeks, although an exact date has not yet been set.

The service will allow people to borrow household items, rather than books, such as carpet cleaners, sewing machines, and children's party sets.

Fiona Hartley, an organiser, said: "These are typically things that might be a bit more expensive, and then you only use them once or twice, and then they sit in your cupboard unused."

She said times were tough at the moment and "this is just something that helps people save a bit of money and a bit of space in their homes".

The project has received funding from the Beeston Civic Society and Broxtowe Borough Council to help with the purchase of items - totalling £1,500.

This money will be spent on purchasing supplies and items to stock the library.

Ms Hartley said there was a "growing movement" behind Libraries of Things nationwide. Similar projects have been set up across the wider East Midlands.

Peter Cribb, the district manager at Inspire, which runs Beeston Library, said he was "excited at the potential".

"It's not something we've done before, you know we do loan out non-book items, but they're on a one-off basis," he said.

When the service starts, people will use an app to book an item they wish to use. Library staff will then retrieve the item.

The maintenance of the items and the app will be operated and paid for by the volunteer groups, Mr Cribb said, and the library's role is to act as storage.

Karrie Stainer is the chairwoman of the volunteers and said she first had the idea for the Library of Things over one year ago.

However, she struggled to secure funding for the project until recently.

"The underlying motivation really comes from environmental issues, not being wasteful of stuff, not throwing stuff away," she said.

"It's going to be very exciting after this weekend, when we've bought all the stuff."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.