Spotlight On: Llandovery’s Library of Things

Pethau Pawb is a project run by Ynni Sir Gar, and two of the staff you can meet there are Helen, who manages the shop, and Vanessa, who runs the Bwrlwm project, which focuses on local community energy and the sharing economy. Helen and Vanessa have experience of working in the Third sector, supporting communities, families and individuals to achieve their goals. They have a wide range of items in stock, from drills, pressure washers and carpet cleaners through to cake tins and hair styling tools, as well as a free Toy Library and free Scrapstore where you can take what you need for crafts and projects.

Pethau Pawb also host a Repair Café on the first Saturday of every month, where volunteers will fix your broken items.

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Who are Pethau Pawb and why did you set up a LoT?

The Organisation Pethau Pawb is a shop in the middle of Llandovery which acts primarily as a library of things but also hosts a repair cafe once per month and other community events on an ad hoc basis. The space is rented from a private Landlord and managed by Ynni Sir Gar, who also own a nearby community wind turbine. The funding provided from the Sustainable Communities fund allowed organisers to turn the shop from a closed newsagents into a space for the community.

The library of things has 190 items in total, with most items having come through donations (for example, Lawnmowers and children toys have been gifted by the community). The success of the space is, in part, down to the generous local community, which is described as “warm and welcoming”.

What role in the community does Pethau Pawb play?

Pethau Pawb plays a vital and evolving role in the heart of its community, particularly for older residents who often have few other local spaces to connect. Its welcoming environment offers more than just practical support—many people simply drop in for a chat, highlighting the often-overlooked social value of such spaces. The team’s ability to continually adapt to meet changing community needs is one of its core strengths, ensuring its relevance and accessibility over time. The importance of the space is clear in the everyday interactions it hosts - such as a local resident stepping in to ask about the next Repair Café, speaking Welsh - illustrating both its cultural grounding and its meaningful place in community life.

What has been your impact locally?

Pethau Pawb has successfully established itself as both a practical community service and a valued local space, with a careful, curated approach to presentation that draws people in. Their seasonal window displays and selective stock choices help them act as a local attraction, boosting visibility and footfall. A key success lies in their focus on helping customers save money—offering quality items that can be seen and handled in person, which adds trust and satisfaction. The shop benefits from a strong sense of local ownership, with the community playing a vital role in maintaining respectful use of the space through informal "self-policing." However, building a consistent volunteer base has been challenging, with many locals reluctant to commit regularly but still willing to help out informally. These difficulties highlight the importance of flexibility, presentation, but particularly of fostering local relationships in sustaining their work.

What kind of challenges have you faced?

The organisation has faced challenges in balancing delivery with administrative expectations, particularly where funding targets risk overshadowing the core purpose of their work. While supported by Sustainable Communities funding, strict limitations have created issues; especially when unspent funds remained towards the end of the funding period but could not be rolled over for future use. This rigidity has made it difficult to plan for long-term impact and sustainability, despite clear community need and ongoing engagement.

“One family treat the service like a family ‘treat’, coming in and borrowing toys every month”

What are your plans/hopes for the library?

Pethau Pawb is now entering a new phase of growth and diversification, supported by recent funding that will end in January 2026. This will enable expanded storage, an increased range of items available to borrow, and the delivery of new training opportunities focused on upcycling, jewellery making, furniture restoration, and tool sharpening. Crucially, the team is also working towards greater financial sustainability, recognising that they could not operate without external funding. To diversify income, they are offering local crafters the chance to stock items in the shop for a small monthly fee and are exploring ways to attract tourists.

Often, ideas for training and workshops emerge organically through everyday conversations with customers, many of whom offer their skills or suggest new activities. Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand their offer for children too, with creative schemes like hobby horse workshops and other family-friendly events in the pipeline.

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You can follow and keep up to date with Pethau Pawb on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560801175779 or view their entire Library of Things on their website https://pethaupawb.ynnisirgar.org/. 

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