Hammersmith Library of Things is now open at Livat Hammersmith. The community-powered social enterprise helps people save money and reduce waste by affordably renting out useful items like drills, sound systems and sewing machines. It also helps people share practical skills like DIY and repair with others in the community.

Thanks to the support of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham council and Livat Hammersmith, Library of Things will offer over 20 useful household, DIY and gardening items for residents to borrow for as little as a few pounds per day.

Residents will be able to reserve items online ready to collect from a self-service kiosk in Livat Hammersmith, a short walk from Hammersmith tube station. Launched in February 2022, Livat Hammersmith is a new space for residents, Londoners and visitors to come together to have fun, to experience new things, and to eat and shop.

Library of Things was founded by Emma Shaw, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sophia Wyatt in 2016. Inspired by similar projects emerging in cities like Berlin and Toronto, this women-led social enterprise launched its first self-service kiosk in Crystal Palace in 2018.

Library of Things is now open in nine locations across London. Over 5,000 people have now borrowed items over 10,000 times, saving approximately 40 tonnes of waste from landfill and 88 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Through its partnerships with product manufacturers Bosh, Kärcher and STIHL, councils and community groups, Library of Things is creating an alternative ‘circular economy’ – helping to transform neighbourhoods into low-waste, community-powered hubs.

Emma Shaw, co-founder of Library of Things, said:

“We’ve had lots of interest in Library of Things from Hammersmith residents and organisations – so we’re excited that they’ll soon be able to borrow quality items like Bosch drills, Kärcher pressure washers and STIHL hedge trimmers for a few pounds per day. This is an important step for Library of Things, as we expand our work to create a community-led circular economy in neighbourhoods across London.”

Natalia Petalina, Meeting Place Manager at Livat Hammersmith commented: “The needs of the local community is at the heart of everything we do in Hammersmith, providing the community with different ways to spend time together. We are excited to welcome Library of Things into our meeting space to help residents of Hammersmith save money and reduce their waste to live more sustainably.”

Councillor Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council:

“Today, we celebrate Hammersmith & Fulham’s first Library of Things. We want to bring our community together and create a less wasteful borrow-don’t-buy culture during the Cost-of-Living crisis.

“This fantastic new community space is a great step forward in making Hammersmith & Fulham the greenest and happiest borough in Britain.”