Number of loans recorded since April 2019
Number of items available to borrow
We are now a Co operative - Non Profit Organisational members are exempt from the 3 hour a fortnight contribution.
The Library of Stuff is ever morphing and evolving in its search for long term viability. After 5 years we are trialing a co operative model where all individual/household members must contribute 3 hours a fortnight. Members get access to the 1000+ item inventory for $52 a year and ensure the assets are cared for and the needs of our non profit organisational members are met.
That’s the deal.
The Library of Stuff exists to support people, groups and businesses who are passionate about radically reducing our environmental footprints by choosing to share rather than buy. If you want to borrow instead of buy but cant contribute 3 hours a fortnight please tell us your situation and we may be able to provide a quote for the items you require. Last minute requests can not be managed at this time. Please give us at least a month to consider your request. Use the contact form below.
WE SIMPLY GOT TOO busy!
The graph above is from the Australian Library of Things Network (ALOT) first survey of Australian share libraries. It was published earlier this year. It’s easy to see why most others are still comfortable operating with just 5-10 dedicated volunteers. We need to move away from a typical volunteer run operation where a few do the work for many to a co operative model of operation where many do the work to support themselves and a generous share of others who need extra assistance for short to long periods of time.
The benefit to community in good times and bad of a store of shared assets is yet to be fully explored. With a generous team of willing hands and big brains we believe our share library will grow to become a major contributor to the health and wellbeing of our community at large and be able to continue to support other organisations taking on roles of asset managers and sharers – our team is currently working to support Resilient Lismore and Resilient Uki.
At 5000 loans a year recorded April 22-23 and then repeated 23-24 the wheels nearly fell off. Our volunteer hours didn’t grow proportionally to this sustained increase in demand. So we have taken the decision to reset and build internal capacity by adopting a Co operative style of operation for our household members. We will serve each other as well as continue the initiatives impressive history of supporting other non profits in the area. We also support informal landcare type groups that care for public lands and local event organisers who share our passion for waste avoidance by borrowing reusables rather than using disposables. If this co op change is new to you please scroll back up and read the important post explaining the announcement.
To read more about Library’s of Things around the country check out the ALOT report just below.
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