What is a Library of Things?
Just like a book library but for things that you don't use very often, don't have space for or can't afford. Items available to borrow include gardening and DIY tools, camping equipment and much more. Each library will have its own set of things to borrow, all available at less than you'd expect to pay second hand and with the opportunity to pay with time instead of money.
Why Borrow?
Simply put we have too much stuff! Lets share it out. Not everyone in your neighbourhood needs a drill, not everyone has space to store stuff and not everyone can afford to buy the things they need. We want to keep stuff in use for as long as possible. By borrowing we can help each other and live more sustainably. Less stuff means less impact on the planet.
Borrow something
What is Benthyg Cymru?
Benthyg (ben-thig) means to borrow or lend in Welsh. We are an organisation that supports a network of communities, and helps them develop a Library of Things model that works for them. We also operate our own projects like Re:Make. We're not a corporation, we're not looking to establish franchises across Wales, or profit from LoT’s. We don't want to profit from borrowers.
We want to take some of the headache out of setting up a Library of Things, because although the concept is simple – setting one up quite often isn’t
Borrow
Borrow things you need but don't own.
Donate
Donate things you own but don't need.
Share
Share knowledge and skills with your community.
The network in numbers
17,000
borrows
£400k
total cost saved
210,000 kg
total carbon saved
Camping table
most borrowed item last quarter
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Our partners and funders
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What the borrowers say...
At Newport City Radio we had the opportunity to run a fundraising bucket collection at Newport County AFC. We borrowed 10 collection buckets. It saved us spending £60 on buckets or cobbling together an odd collection of household buckets.They were professional collection buckets that helped lend credibility to our cause.
Ian Lamsdale- Director Newport City Radio
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Did you know?
Many Libraries of Things have some unusual items in their inventories – there's a coin sorter at Benthyg Penarth, a lino printing pack at Petha and a metal detector at RE:MAKE Newport!
Find your nearest library of things
