Lawnmowers, DIY tools and other household appliances will soon be available to rent from Dalston CLR James Library as part of a new lending scheme launched by Hackney Council.
The project will see the Council collaborate with the “Library of Things”, a women-led social enterprise based in South London. From this summer*, Hackney residents will be able to borrow items from the library, paying a daily rate at a cut price from the retail cost.
The Library of Things will also encourage people to donate unwanted appliances to the scheme, in order to reduce landfill and incinerated waste.
Councillor Jon Burke, the cabinet member for energy, waste, transport and public realm, said: “reuse, repair and the sharing economy are very much part of how we will live in the future if we’re to address the looming climate crisis”. He added that the new scheme would “help realise our vision of a prosperous, low-carbon Hackney”.
The location of the scheme at the CLR James Library aims to make the facility easily accessible to residents across the borough, and is part of a raft of environmentally friendly measures being launched in Dalston. The area was also recently chosen by the Council to participate in a “Low Plastic Zone” scheme encouraging local businesses to cut down on waste.
On the new site, Library of Things co-founder Emma Shaw said: “In such uncertain times, we feel it’s more important than ever that local services can help people to save money, access useful resources and feel connected to their neighbours”.
Dalston’s lending library is the second such facility to open in London, and the first to be backed by Council funding. It is understood that the scheme would see the introduction of an automated kiosk, similar to the Amazon locker delivery scheme.
The Library of Things opened its first hub in Crystal Palace in 2017 after a crowdfunding effort raised £10,000. The site, which seeks to make borrowing “more affordable and convenient” than buying, has saved an estimated 23 tonnes of waste since opening.
An eclectic range of available items at the South London location include an ice cream maker, a hedge trimmer, a carpet cleaner, and a ukulele. A consultation is currently open for Hackney residents to choose what they’d like their library to offer.
To register your interest in the Dalston Library of Things, visit www.libraryofthings.co.uk/dalston
* The Library of Things say the current coronavirus pandemic may delay the opening to later in the year.
