Barking Library of Things

22/08/2023

Our end of summer flash sale is now live! Hit this link to save a whopping 30% when you reserve selected DIY, gardening, cleaning and camping items : https://participate.libraryofthings.co.uk/summersale23?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=summersale23

Remember this offer is only running for 24 hours so get your bookings in fast 🏃

Let's squeeze the most out of the last days of August together! 😎

21/08/2023

✨ 24 hour FLASH SALE starts 9am tomorrow: Enjoy 30% off sustainable rentals for one day only. ✨ ⏰

We know the long weekend can be a spenny one, so we're reducing some of our most popular Things so you can tick off your tasks or enjoy a summertime getaway without overloading your bank balance. Renting rather than buying those things that you might only use once or twice means less clutter, less waste and more money in your pocket. 💪

Starting at 9am tomorrow, Tuesday 22 August, dive into our library of carefully curated tools at rates you'll love. Here are just a few of the deals to look out for:

🏕️ Spontaneous outdoor adventure on the cards? Rent a tent for £3.50 (Usually £5)
🥳Spotted the forecast and suddenly in need of a gazebo? Rent one for £14 (usually £20)
🌳Is your garden overdue a haircut? Rent the hedge trimmer for £7 (usually £10)
⚒️Repair jobs mounting up? Rent a range of DIY tools and repair kits starting at £2.10

Plus you'll notice even bigger savings if you're booking over the bank holiday weekend as our closed day pricing offer kicks in - don't say we don't treat you!

How to claim:
👉 Visit our website from 9am on Tuesday, August 22
👉 Select your must-have items at the discounted prices
👉 Collect at your convenience from any of our 14 London locations or in Brighton

⏳😎 Visit us at https://participate.libraryofthings.co.uk/summersale23?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=summersale23 from 9am tomorrow to browse and book. 🎈🙌

16/08/2023

The Bank Holiday countdown is on! ⌛🎉 Over the long weekend our closed day pricing discount will kick in meaning great savings on all your DIY, cleaning and hosting faves! BUT there's even more reason to set your alarms because we've got a BIG announcement coming next week that will help you save even more.

Sign up to our newsletter at the end of this page to ensure you receive our news, which will be landing in your inbox on Tuesday 22 August: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=bankholiday

In the meantime, here's some inspiration for how to spend the long weekend (when you're not sleeping in of course):

"My husband bought trousers that needed taking up, and convinced me to borrow Calvin the sewing machine to do it. I went from complete beginner to seamstress over the bank holiday weekend!" - Wendy, sewing machine user

"Very high staircase walls require a very high ladder. So glad we hired this one was perfect for the bank holiday decorating" Amam, extendable ladder user

"I got stuck putting up some shelves and was determined to finish my bank holiday DIY project. Last minute search and I found Library of Things. So easy, so quick, so affordable, picked up and returned within 2 hours and DIY project saved!!!" Samanatha, SDS drill user

So next time you need a tool to get your task done, why not give renting a go? It's cheaper, clutter-free and better for the planet. Check out the full range here: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=bankholiday

26/07/2023

📢 Calling all Barking & Dagenham residents!

❓Do you want to save money on useful household items like carpet cleaners, drills, dehumidifiers, sound systems and sewing machines ?

💡Then check out your local Library of Things located on the ground floor inside Barking Learning Centre (IG11 7NB): https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/barking?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=julysp

Here's how it works:

💻Reserve the items you need online
🚶swing by and collect them from the lockers
🔧 Complete your task
🚶return the things to the lockers for the next person
🤳Send us your story for a chance to win £20 borrowing credit 🎉

Essex Live covered our opening here: https://www.essexlive.news/whats-on/barking-library-things-visitors-can-7663428

Here's what Barking residents are saying:

Kimberley said: "I have a drill but needed a more powerful one for the concrete wall. I don't need to own 2 drills so its nice to borrow one."

Another borrower said "Library of Things has saved me so much money during my recent relocating at home. The ease + cost is amazing. This weekend I borrowed the wallpaper stripper to remove 3 layers of 30yr old wallpaper from my hallway. Made the job sooooo much quicker. Couldn't b happier."

Naz said "So easy and straightforward to reserve, collect and return items. The instructions / how to use videos were a great addition for a novice like me. Good quality items, with attachments, all clean, tidy.
Wish I knew about this sooner. Can't recommend enough."

Want an extra 25% off ? Just choose our no-questions-asked concession rate when you make a booking. Get started here or tag your Barking mates below: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/barking?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=julysp

22/07/2023

It brings us so much joy to see what the Things have been up to when they're not in their lockers! Here's what they've been doing over the last couple of weeks:

🏳‍🌈 Janis the Speaker and PA System from Kentish Town got everyone dancing at Pride in London. 🙌

💜 Buttercup the Strimmer from Brighton and Hove helped GoodGym to clear a council run residential senior home garden. ✂

💍 Morse the Metal Detector has helped yet another Morden borrower to find their wedding ring. It took him just 20 minutes, after it had been lost in the Sussex countryside for 3 weeks! Great news! 👏

🏕 A Hackney Wick borrower took their 4 year old daughter on their first camping trip, along with Val the Tent! They found our super simple assembly instructions really helpful as they're not regular campers. Making memories 💜

🥾 Sonny the Heat Gun is one of our newest Things, they helped a borrower from Kilburn to add some wax to their walking boots. We wonder what adventures they're headed for next! 🤔

🌻 A borrower from Canada Water was banned by their partner from buying any more plant pots...they found a loophole and borrowed MC Hammer the SDS Drill to attach some planters to their garden wall instead! 🌱

🚲 Pythagoras the Angle Grinder helped a borrower from Hammersmith to make a one off repair to their bicycle. 💪

As you can see the Things (and their borrowers) have been busy bees...we wish we could hear every single story of why they get borrowed! If you'd like to share your borrowing story (no your story isn't boring, we love every single one!) then head to the link below.

Link 👉 https://libraryofthings.wiki/stories

18/07/2023

We agree with Einstein! Which is why we're on a mission to make borrowing better than buying - to help the planet, revive our highstreets, and save communities money at the same time.

Our 'Here's the Thing' monthly mailer focusses on different aspects of sustainability - as it's we decided to look at plastic for the latest edition.

It's got 6 ideas of ways to go plastic free this July, as well as some unusual litter picking groups! 🗑

Head to the link below if you'd like to receive our joyful newsletters in your inbox. 💌

It drops on Thursday, so be quick! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Link 👉 https://bit.ly/3D3qvNY

15/07/2023

🥁 Borrower of the month is...Natalie from Dalston 👏

Every month we ask our newsletter subscribers to choose who should win £20 borrowing credit. Natalie's was their favourite story this month. 🛋🏆

"We inherited a sofa which is in great condition but was dirty. Library of things carpet and upholstery cleaner made the sofa good as new. Upcycling and recycling is made easier with library of things"

We love that Natalie was able to rescue the sofa with the help of Diana the Carpet Cleaner. A 'new' sofa for £22.50 isn't bad all! Plus they got £20 to spend on their next rescue mission! 🙌

As always there were so many great stories, it was a tough choice to make! Here are the runners up:

🌱 One borrower used the Projector Screen to do their first ever event for
☀ Restoring a second hand patio set to it's former glory with the Hand Sander
🥂 Having a birthday get together with friends and the help of the Projector
🚐 The start of a new adventure - the Jigsaw cut some windows into a camper van conversion
✂ Cutting 8ft of brambles with the Hedge Trimmer!

If you'd like the chance to be crowned Borrower of the Month 👑 (and win £20 credit) then don't forget to snap some pics of what you used your Thing for - you don't even have to be in the photo! 📷

💌 Sign up to our newsletter if you'd like to be even more involved in the Library of Things community. Choosing BotM is just part of it, we love to get your input to help Library of Things to evolve. Plus we do our best to share fun and inspirational content - no boring spam here. 🚫

Sign up to our mailing list here 👉 https://bit.ly/3D3qvNY

12/07/2023

We are thrilled to announce that Library of Things are winners of Escape the City's The Escape 100 campaign, now recognised as one of the top purposeful organisations to ‘escape’ to in 2023! 🙌

From 13,000 nominations and a rigorous application process, we were placed in the TOP 10 and are honoured to be joining some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies, and most importantly, one of the best places to work.

Visit our Escape profile to find out why we’re part of the Escape 100 & get notified when new roles come up.
https://bit.ly/44DrekI

07/07/2023

Getting thrifty with it🤸Every day we receive stories from members who have used the Things to give their belongings a refresh instead of throwing them away. Hearing how you guys have resisted buying new stuff, revamped what you own and saved yourselves some dosh makes us feel like proud parents 😊

Click here to see what tools we have to help you with your upcycling and cleaning projects or read on for some stories from Library of Things members living their best thrifty lives: https://bit.ly/41k7cdHHere

1. "I mended the curtains in my daughter's room to give them a new lease of life. It was all so easy and efficient I could not improve on the process." Harry, Sewing Machine user

🧵Sewing Machine £5 a day (£4 with our Concession Membership)

2. "A second hand patio set is well on its way to being restored to former glory - would never have been achieved without the hand sander but didn't want the expense of buying one." - Kirsty, Hand Sander user

👋Hand Sander £7.50 a day (£5.50 with our Concession Membership)

3. "The carpet cleaner was amazing. Having little children and teenagers you can imagine the mess and spillage that occurs on a daily basis. Using the carpet for my sofa and rug has not only saved me money by not replacing especially the rug, but has made the room so much brighter and cleaner and smelling amazing." - Sahra, Carpet Cleaner user

💦Carpet Cleaner £22.50 a day (£17 with our Concession Membership)

Want to hear more inspirational upcycling stories from your neighbours like this? Make sure you're signed up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/41k7cdH

28/06/2023

The Tents are back in their lockers, recovering from a weekend at Glasto! 🎶

Here's what Larna from Crystal Palace had to say "I took Peggie the 3 Man tent to Glastonbury! So easy to pick up/drop off. So cheap to hire. It’s a great quality item that saved my pocket and helped me stick to the Glastonbury ‘love the farm, leave no trace!’ pledge. I felt so smug.."

We were feeling pretty smug too, when we read that! A huge number of tents get left at festivals every year, so we're super proud that Larna chose to borrow and 'leave no trace' - it made us do a happy dance!

Ari took Gertie the Tent away for the weekend - "I went to Glasto! I don't need a tent the rest of the year so borrowing was the perfect solution. The tent was absolutely perfect and the process of borrowing and returning was so smooth! I have recommended Library of Things to everyone."

Thanks for helping to spread the word that borrowing is better than buying Ari! 🎶🙌 The Tents aren't just great for festivals - they can also be used for holidays, wedding and party accommodation or if you just fancy a snooze in the garden!

Tents tend to get booked up in advance, so head to the website now to book your dates before they go! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Check out all the adventure Things 👉 https://bit.ly/44qZ6kR

19/06/2023

Will the Carpet Cleaner ever be knocked off its top spot as most hired thing?! For now, you guys are loving the results and we love seeing your good as new carpets!

Here's what one member had to say: "I needed a carpet cleaner to clean my sofa bed which was a bit tired after being my two cats' 🐈🐈‍⬛ favourite spot for a long time, I borrowed it from Hammersmith Library of Things and was very impressed with the service and how easy it was to collect and return. The set of instructions were extremely helpful and made the whole process very straightforward. It's a great concept that is helping people to reduce waste and making our world a more sustainable place”

Thank you Renato for sharing your experience with us and using our services!💪

The carpet cleaner is available to hire for £22.50 (save 25% with our concession membership if you feel you need it).

Remember we've got more than 30 DIY, cleaning, gardening, hobbying & hosting Things for you to borrow from a few pounds a day including strimmers, drills, pressure washers and more outdoorsy things - incase you want to make the most of the sunshine!

Join the movement to buy less and share more. Browse and reserve here: https://bit.ly/41k7cdH

31/05/2023

We are very proud to have taken part in one of TCV's Green Gym sessions 💚, providing some of our tools for them to complete a communal project.

brings residents from local communities together and provides them with the practical expertise, resources and training they need 💪to engage in sustained social actions that make a positive difference 🌎.

The team of volunteers used one of our Hand Sanders to sand some boards to create a compost bin for Gospel Oak Primary School and one of our Jigsaws to cut some interpretation and mural panels for Ingestre Woods.

It was a great project to be involved in, a huge thank you to all the volunteers for doing such an amazing job!

When it comes to DIY we have a great selection of tools 🧰, things like Drills, Wallpaper St*****rs, Planners, Circular Saws, Angle Grinders and more.

And don't forget that as well as DIY; we also have a great range of Cleaning, Hosting, Cooking and Gardening items to rent for a few pounds a day. Check our catalogue of things and make your reservations on this link: https://bit.ly/3pI9al7

25/05/2023

"I got stuck putting up some shelves and was determined to finish my bank holiday DIY project. Last minute search and I found Library of Things. So easy, so quick, so affordable, picked up and returned within 2 hours and DIY project saved!!!"

Go Samantha! 👏 Samantha borrowed the SDS Drill from our Crystal Palace lockers and totally smashed her bank hols project. With another long weekend approaching, we're on hand to help you get things done without the need to buy new stuff you may only use once or twice.

Here are 6️⃣ ways to make the most of the spring bank holiday without breaking the bank 😎
🧇Breakfast with the Waffle Maker is how all great bank holidays start, so we're told! Plus, renting one means clutter-free kitchen counters
🛠️Has Samantha inspired you to pick up some power tools? We've got a huge range of BOSCH Professional DIY Things, from drills to tile cutters to wallpaper st*****rs.
📽️Prefer to spend your bank holidays horizontal on the sofa? Make a home date of it with the projector.
💦Getting your outside space summer-ready? Blast built-up dirt with the Pressure Washer.
🥳Throwing a karaoke party? Make sure every note is heard with the Speaker and PA system
✨ Finally got time to get the house gleaming again! Try our Carpet Cleaners, Steam Cleaners and more. We've got everyThing you'll need to get your home s***k and span again.

Take a peek at our full range here and get your bank hols reservations in quick: https://bit.ly/3MXmWPm

14/04/2023

Have you heard of Good to Grow Day? It’s an annual campaign celebrating the joys of community gardening and the benefits it brings. 🌼 🌿 🥕

Community gardens aren’t just spaces where plants flourish - people do too. By working together to cultivate a garden, we create opportunities to natter with our neighbors, share knowledge and skills, and foster a sense of pride in our shared spaces. Plus you get tasty, local produce out of it too! Here are some of our favourite stories from our green-fingered members 👇

This Bromley member said: “Buttercup the strimmer helped me clear the paths at the school allotment ready for a big weeding session over Easter. That way we won't lose any of the children in the long grass!”

🌳Stihl Strimmer £10 a day/ 💰£239 saving

In Morden, the Carshalton Lavender volunteers said: "We borrowed Laurel the Hedge Trimmer today to finish the rest of our fields. Borrowing is a simple and cost-effective way to sort out the tough to do jobs - highly recommend using them...
From all of us at Carshalton Lavender a big thank you 😊 💜💜💜🪴👩🏼‍🌾"

🌳Stihl Hedge Trimmer £10 a day / 💰£229 saving

In Kentish Town, a member hired the lawnmower to high-cut two meadows in the local park and allotment. He told us he liked how convenient it was to use Library of Things.

🌳 Stihl Lawn Mower £10 a day/ 💰 £479 saving

Need some tools to spruce up a community garden in time for Good to Grow Day?

Or feeling inspired to get stuck into your own plot? You know where to find us! https://bit.ly/3Kv61kI

🌿Community gardens across the UK open their gates 21-24 April

Check out the map to find your nearest garden: https://bit.ly/3zTGr3F

Good to Grow

13/04/2023

How to clean your house with zero chemicals 💫💦🙌

"This year I decided to start my spring clean early, because when the weather warms up I’d rather be outside enjoying it than stuck inside cleaning. ☀️I wanted to do a thorough clean without using harsh chemicals so I hired the steam cleaner from Library of Things.

👩‍💻The hire process was super simple, I reserved it online, then used the self service lockers at Hackney Wick to collect. 🪟 It came with loads of different attachments including for floors, windows and tiling. We have quite high ceilings so the extension pipes you can see here came in handy. It was easy to set up and very satisfying to use.

💃Once I started I couldn’t stop! I used it to clean my blinds and living room windows before moving on to my bedroom and kitchen windows.🤦 I honestly can’t remember the last time we cleaned the windows, judging by the dirt dripping off, it was a very long time ago!👀 The difference to the natural light we get now is actually crazy.✨

When I eventually exhausted the list of things I could steam clean, I gave all the attachments I used a quick rinse and returned it to my local lockers inside The Baths on Eastway in Hackney Wick.🏃

Renting the steam cleaner made sense to me because I don’t have a spare 200 pounds to buy a new one & I have zero storage space plus I like the idea of supporting a female-founded social enterprise.♀️✊ If you do too, hit the link in bio to give hiring a go."

Thanks to our community activator Kyra for sharing her steam-cleaning adventures with us. Feeling motivated to get your spring clean on? We also have Carpet Cleaners, Wet + Dry Vacs, Ladders for those hard-to-reach places and Pressure Washers for outdoor spruce-ups. Click here to check out the full range: https://bit.ly/3Kv61kI💜

11/04/2023

🐾 We couldn’t let National Pet Day slide by without doing a shout-out to all the furry companions who pop up in the photos you send us. We love seeing their inquisitive little faces checking out the Things you’ve hired - even if they do steal the show. 😆 Enjoy this compilation and keep those photos coming! 🥰

If you need the motivation to make your pets happy by creating something for them or including them in your projects, this is it! 👇

🐕 Matt hired our hand sander for £7.50 a day and transformed his outdoor table. Matt's Dog, Professor Wiggles, appears suitably impressed.

😻 .dvazq hired one of our sewing machines for £5 a day from Dalston Library of Things and made this super cute cat coat.

🐶 A borrower from hired the drill for £5 a day to help put up this fantastic shed. 🛠 The dog, Pippi, approved of it as she got a bed in there.

🐩 Devora hired the sewing machine for £5 a day and made a cute cushion for her lovely dog Lola. She looked super chuffed with her hammy cushion!

🐈 A borrower from Hammersmith Library of Things had a few DIY jobs that needed to be done. So rather than hire someone to do the repairs, he hired the drill for £5 a day and the spirit level for £1 a day and did the repairs himself. His furry friend looked pleased with all the work.

🐶 Kentish Town Local, Essy, hired the inflatable mattress for £5 a day as she had friends coming to stay; her doggy thought this mattress was comfier than her own bed :-)

🐕 A Dalston member knocked down her old garden shed and built a new one from scratch with the help of our Reciprocating Saw and the Multi-Cutter (each £12.50 a day)

🐶 Over in Hackney Wick, a borrower hired Marty the projector for £12.50 a day to celebrate Valentine's Day. His little doggy didn't want to miss the celebration and made sure he got a good spot to watch the film.

All this without the need to buy new things and spend lots of money!

Check out our website and join our community of borrowers.

🐶🐱🐰

05/04/2023

Looking for school holiday fun that doesn't break the bank? We have you covered. From batter-filled mornings with the waffle maker to movie-packed afternoons with the projector, we've got plenty to keep your little ones entertained and more - perhaps the promise of chocolate can tempt them into carpet cleaning duties? 😜

If you're a busy parent on a budget, using Barking Library of Things can
✅reduce your household's waste,
✅save you money on things you might have bought new,
✅help you enjoy a wide range of items and experiences at home without the extra clutter

Here are our top 5 school holiday activities
🍦 Create weird and wonderful flavours with the Ice Cream Maker. £3* a day
🎤 Stick your kid's favourite tunes on and throw a karaoke party. £10* a day
🧇 Enjoy a waffle-making sesh with the Waffle Maker. £3* a day
🎥 Line up your favourite films on the Projector. £12.50* a day
👗Have an arts and crafts day with the Sewing Machine. £5* a day

* Save 25% when you choose our concession membership💞

And don't forget we have a full range of Cleaning, DIY, Hosting, Adventure and Cooking Things to choose from.

Click here 👉 to get your reservations in: https://participate.libraryofthings.co.uk/library-of-things-london-local?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=superpost&utm_medium=organic+social

05/04/2023