Keep the shelf, return the drill: London’s Library of Things

Once a shelf is fixed to the wall, where does the power drill go? The job may take only a short time, but the toolbox can occupy a cupboard for years. London's Library of Things gathers tools and appliances for people to borrow when needed, rather than buy one for every home. Its shelves hold drills, carpet cleaners, and sewing machines instead of books.

The social enterprise began as a local experiment in south London in 2014. Its official website also lists steam cleaners and projectors. The focus is on equipment needed for an occasional repair or gathering, rather than replacing everything a household uses regularly with rentals.

Borrowers first choose a nearby location, item, and date online. They collect the reserved item from a self-service locker and return it to the same place after use. Same-day booking and collection are possible when an item is available. Availability still has to fit the date of the repair or other planned task.

Unlike a public library offering free loans, the service charges for each rental and has a separate one-time joining fee. Borrowers register and complete identity checks before their first use. Returns must include the main item and all its accessories, cleaned for the next person. A missing charger or bag can hold up someone else's job.

The convenience therefore includes a commitment to collection and return. Fewer tools need to be stored at home, but borrowers must travel to a location and return equipment on time. Buying may make more sense depending on distance and frequency of use. This is a London service, not an offer available on the same terms in Korea.

Borrowing changes more than the bill. When the job is finished, the task is to check the accessories and return the tool to its locker, rather than find a cupboard for it. What stays at home is the newly fitted shelf. When another wall needs a hole, the same drill goes out again.