Residents can now borrow quality household and DIY items ‘for a few pounds a day’ from Canada Water Library – including tools by top brands.
Southwark Council has just launched a scheme to help local people to save money and reduce waste by renting household, DIY, and gardening items at an affordable rate.
The Library of Things will offer over 30 valuable items – such as Bosch drills and STIHL hedge trimmers – for residents to hire for as little as a few pounds per day.
Residents can reserve items online ready to collect from self-service lockers in Canada Water Library.
But motivations for borrowing are not purely environmental – renting is more cost-effective than buying, helps reduce clutter and is a low-barrier way to learn practical skills like repair and DIY.
There is also the option to sign up for a concession membership which offers 25 per cent off rentals.
The council say it is part of their plan to make the borough carbon-neutral.
Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets, said: “We are thrilled to launch Southwark’s first Library of Things, supporting the council’s commitment to do all we can to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030.”
“As the impact of climate change becomes increasingly apparent, it’s vital that we all adopt sustainable practices to minimise waste and reduce our carbon footprint.
“Community borrowing helps achieve these goals while fostering a greater sense of community. From power tools to kitchen appliances, each item borrowed is a step towards a more sustainable future.
Emma Shaw, the co-founder of Library of Things, said: “We’ve had lots of interest in Library of Things from Canada Water residents and organisations – so we’re excited that they’ll now be able to borrow quality items like Bosch drills, Kärcher pressure washers and STIHL hedge trimmers for a few pounds per day.
“This is an important step for the Library of Things, as we expand our work to create a community-led circular economy in neighbourhoods across London.”
Library of Things was founded by Emma Shaw, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sophia Wyatt in 2016. Inspired by similar projects emerging in cities like Berlin and Toronto, this women-led social enterprise launched its first self-service lockers in Crystal Palace in 2018. Library of Things is now open in fifteen locations across London.
Over 11,000 people have now hired almost 20,000 things, saving £640,000 from not buying new and saving approximately 110 tonnes of waste from landfill and 228 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
You can now reserve items here.