A new retail store with a difference will be opening at a university campus on the outskirts of Bristol. Instead of buying, customers can borrow goods instead at The Library of Things, a unique store which encourages sharing items. It will open at the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus “in the coming months”.
The first Library of Things was opened in Kingswood in 2021, which saw hundreds of people use various items stocked and then return them, instead of buying. A second site was opened earlier this year in Bedminster.
The Library of Things had an opportunity to open at the Frenchay campus and set up a crowdfunder to raise the money to help with setup costs including funding a part-time library manager for the site. The new site will be located near the main bus stops on the campus.
The funding has been matched by Aviva and the Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation, meaning that currently more than £12,000 has been raised so far. Any additional money received will help fund purchasing furniture, PPE and consumables for the Frenchay site.
The Library of Things said that there are more than 700 members who use the Library of Things and more than 1,700 items to borrow across Kingswood and Bedminster. The Library of Things has a dedicated wish list of items which it is seeking ahead of the Frenchay opening, including the likes of games, sports equipment and housing gear.
Posting on October 4, the Library of Things said: “We are thrilled to announce the future location of our third site, which will be hosted at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Thanks to the support of the community – including many of you – as well as our match funders, Aviva and the Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation, we have already raised £10,000 (and counting) through our crowdfunder, to help us to open this new site in the coming months.
“Current and future members of the Library of Things will be able to make use of all three sites, bringing sharing closer to home for those in North Bristol. The site will be accessible by public transport, as it will be located next to the main bus stops at UWE Bristol. There will also be short-term parking available for those picking up or returning bulky items, like carpet cleaners, mitre saws, lawnmowers, or gazebos.”
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