#Maine - Want to try something new in the new year? Check out a ‘library of things’

#Libraries are expanding their offerings beyond books and audiotapes, broadening the potential pursuits of patrons.

by Sophie Burchell, January 2, 2026

CUMBERLAND — "If your New Year’s resolution is to try a new hobby — cooking more diverse recipes, taking up knitting or digging into gardening — but you are not yet ready to make a commitment for all of 2026, there is a shelf at the library for you.

"Stacked with items including a #MortarAndPestle, a #SpinningWheel and a #broadfork, the #LibraryOfThings at Cumberland’s #PrinceMemorialLibrary has objects for all types of pursuits ready for patrons to borrow like they would a book.

" 'The tortilla press is quite popular. A lot of people, they want to have a taco party or something, they want to try it out,' said Kelly Greenlee, community outreach librarian at Prince Memorial Library, which serves #CumberlandME and #NorthYarmouthME.

"Categories of 'things' include arts and craft supplies, science and technology devices, health and wellness equipment and home and garden tools. When acquiring items for this collection, librarians look for items that are typically only used once or twice a year, or things that someone would want to test out before they purchase it for themselves. The collection is intended to save library patrons time and money, as well as broaden their horizons — much like books.

" 'It’s designed to encourage people to have a #SharingEconomy, essentially,' said Greenlee. 'Libraries have always been about sharing resources, and it’s really just an extension of that.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/12/30/want-to-try-something-new-in-the-new-year-check-out-a-library-of-things/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/cWBiQ

#SolarPunkSunday #LibrariesRule #MaineLibraries #LibrariesOfThings #BorrowDontBuy

What if Everything is Free? Exploring The #LibraryOfThings Concept

"Research has shown that people are increasingly open to collaborative consumption, with studies indicating a rising willingness to share goods instead of purchasing them outright."

by Jed Brown, Feb 19, 2025

"In today’s consumer-driven society, the idea of ownership is so deeply ingrained that imagining a world where everything is free can seem radical — if not downright impossible.

Yet, emerging initiatives like the Library of Things invite us to reconsider our relationship with material goods. Rather than accumulating items, communities are experimenting with a model where objects are shared rather than owned."

Read more:
https://medium.com/@jedbrown99/what-if-everything-is-free-f52874528afc

#SolarPunkSunday #SharingEconomy #LibrariesOfThings #BorrowDontBuy #Degrowth #LibrariesOfThings #Decapitalize

Why Shop? In #Maine, the #LibraryOfThings Has It All (Almost).

One town’s effort to make pricey items accessible and encourage people to buy less stuff seems to be catching on.

By Cara Buckley, Aug. 20, 2025

"Here’s a short but by no means comprehensive list of items that patrons of Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine, can check out for free: A dumpling steamer. Cannoli-making tubes. A ukulele. A heated leg massager. A Happy Birthday sign. Easels. A foam ax throwing game. A KitchenAid mixer, in chrome or red.

"Mary Gerber, a retired schoolteacher, borrowed hula hoops and a cornhole game for her son’s 2022 backyard wedding, and, more recently, a spiralizer for her homegrown zucchini. Betty McNally, a retired bookkeeper, routinely borrows a loom and a drop spindle to hand-spin yarn. In late July, she checked out a root slayer to tackle the overly abundant hostas in her yard. She’d had it on hold, because there was a waiting list.
'It feels revolutionary,' Ms. McNally said. 'I’m not buying it and storing it and the great thing is it’s really useful but I’m probably only going to use it once or twice. This way, other people can use it. It’s perfection.'

"The Library of Things at Curtis Memorial Library was founded in 2018 to make pricey items accessible and encourage people to buy less stuff. It now has more than 1,500 items, all tailored to meet the needs of the roughly 22,600 people who live in Brunswick, as well as nearby #HarpswellME, which has a population of just over 5,000.

"There’s a driving kit with miniature street signs, a lesson book and a sample test to familiarize new drivers and migrants with the rules of the road. #FoodCanners, fruit tree pickers, molds for homemade Popsicles, a #FoodDehydrator and tomato strainers are offered to help people make their own food.

"Items in high demand can be checked out for only a week, and include a #GrainMill for grinding fresh flour, a nut wizard to gather acorns and other nuts, and, this being Maine, a #BlueberryRake."

Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/climate/maine-library-of-things.html

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/yoxBx

#SolarPunkSunday #CurtisMemorialLibrary #BrunswickME #LibraryOfThingsMaine #BorrowDontBuy #PreservingTheHarvest

#PublicLibrariesVictoria #Australia - #LibraryOfThings

"The library extends beyond books and embraces a vast array of useful items. This initiative is unique to each library, providing the community to borrow a diverse range of objects. Transforming the library into a hub of shared resources.

From tools and electronics to kitchen appliances and party supplies to children’s toys and hiking equipment. The concept expands access to items that might otherwise be unaffordable or underutilized. By borrowing rather than buying patrons not only save money but also promote sustainable consumption and reduce waste. Providing an opportunity for skill building, or to experiment with a new hobby. All the Library of Things across Victoria exemplify the collaborative spirit of the community offering the shared pool of resources.

Please get in contact with your closest library to discover what their Library of Things consists of.

By aligning with these SDG targets, a ‘library of things’ facilitates sustainable consumption, reduces waste, promotes community engagement and supports the development of resilient and inclusive cities. It encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnerships to address the challenges of sustainable development and create more sustainable and resourceful communities.

Libraries that offer this initiative:
Bayside Libraries
Boroondara Libraries
Brimbank Libraries
Darebin Libraries
Geelong Regional Libraries
Glen Eira Libraries
Greater Dandenong Libraries
Goulburn Valley Libraries
Hobsons Bay Libraries
Hume Libraries
Melbourne Libraries
Mitchell Shire Libraries
MYLI - My Community Libraries
Whitehorse Manningham Libraries"

FMI - https://www.plv.org.au/initiatives/library-of-things/

#SolarPunkSunday #LibrariesOfThings #LibraryOfThingsAustralia #BorrowDontBuy #Australia #VictoriaAustralia

#SydneyNSW, #Australia - Why Buy When You Can Borrow?

"The #Sydney #LibraryOfThings is a not-for-profit service that provides the local community with access to a collection of extremely useful but only occasionally used items that can be loaned out for a short period of time.

We’re like a normal library but with things instead of books! Joining your enables you to borrow from ALL of our branches and you don’t have to live in the local area of the branch you want to join! Find out more about subscriptions and how it works here.

We hope that by encouraging people to borrow instead of buying or throwing away their unwanted items, together we can create a better connected, more sustainable and stronger community.
Did you know we also deliver #RepairCafes and run a #ToyLibrary? Check out #FixItHub Waverton, #TheFixery Cromer and The Lane Cove Toy Library.

We acknowledge the original custodians of the lands we work from, and pay respect to Elders past and present and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

FMI - https://thesydneylibraryofthings.org.au/

#SolarPunkSunday #BorrowDontBuy #FixIt #Australia #Decolonise #Degrowth #Decapitalise #LibraryOfThingsAustralia

LIBRARY OF THINGS – Borrowing Beyond Books

"Obtain a Curtis Memorial Library card to borrow from our Library of Things. This collection can be browsed by category below or seen throughout our Nonfiction shelves. Oversize items can be fetched by staff and you may reserve Things for checkout just as you do a book. A listing of all kits is available in Minerva. By checking out a Thing you agree to the Borrowing and Use Guidelines.

Some items in our Library of Things are referred to as “Specialty Items”. Specialty items can only be checked out by our 18+ patrons due to legal and/or safety concerns. For a listing of these Specialty Items, see link below.

Let us know what else we should lend, share how you want to use an item, learn how to share your consumables and repair your items, find out where you can acquire items we don’t lend, or browse more of our community’s ideas at our registry. If an item does not circulate in a year, we give it to another library. Learn where else you can borrow items, why we have a Library of Things, how we support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how you can do so too, by exploring our videos at the bottom of the page. We want to help. Get in touch!"

https://curtislibrary.com/library-of-things/

#SolarPunkSunday #BorrowDontBuy #LibraryOfThingsMaine #LibrariesOfThings #MaineLibraries #BrunwickME #HolidayCooking #HomeRepairs #Crafting #LoT #LibraryOfThings #LibrariesRule!

Well, saving money is a good reason for #NoBuy practices. But even better -- keeping things out of the landfills! This is a trend we ALL need to see more of! For whatever reason one chooses not to buy, I'm glad to see it catching on!

How the '#NoBuy2025' trend could help you get your budget on track this year

Ivana Pino, July 21, 2025

Excerpt: "Many of those who take on the challenge start by creating a list of rules for themselves that align with their lifestyles. This could include hard rules such as 'no new clothes whatsoever' or 'no new technology,' as well as rules that limit the frequency of certain purchases, such as 'yes to takeout once per month' or 'yes to one nail appointment every two weeks.'

"Others have posted online about having a 'low buy' year, which means they’re limiting the amount of purchases they’re making, rather than cutting out non-essential spending altogether."

Source:
https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/banking/article/no-buy-2025-154420096.html?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarPunkSunday #Degrowth #RepairReuseRecycle #RightToRepair #VisibleMending #BorrowDontBuy #LibraryOfThings #FixDontBuy #FixIt #DIY #RepairCafes

How to find a #LibraryOfThings in the USA via #ThePeoplesHub

"We have listed some here below. You can search online, contact your local library, or ask your community organization.

- Ann Arbor District Library, MI: This library has a wide variety of items available for loan, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.

- Brooklyn Public Library, NY: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- City of Hope Library of Things, CA: Medical equipment borrowed for free. By patients and their families.

- Durham Tool Library, NC: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- Emerald City Libraries, WA: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- Interfaith Community Services, MA: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free by low-income families.

- Little Free Library, USA: This organization has a network of over 90,000 Little Free Libraries located in communities all over the USA. These libraries are free to use and they offer a variety of books, magazines, and other materials.

- Portland Tool Library, OR: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- Recommended Reading Library, PA: Has a collection of books, magazines, and other materials borrowed for free.

- San Francisco Public Library, CA: Collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- Seattle Tool Library, WA: Has a collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- Trinity Tool Library, CT: This library has a collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free.

- University of California, Berkeley, CA: This university has a collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free by students, staff, and faculty.

- University of Washington, WA: This university has a collection of tools and equipment borrowed for free by students, staff, and faculty.

"This is just a small sample of the many Libraries of Things that are available in the USA.

"Libraries of Things are a great way to reduce waste, encourage sharing, and access new things. If you are looking for a way to be more ethical, sustainable and to save money, do consider using one.

"Here are some additional details about the movement in the USA:

"The Library of Things movement is growing rapidly in the USA. In the past few years, there has been a surge in the number of Libraries of Things opening up across the country. This is due in part to the growing awareness of the environmental and enterprising financial benefits of sharing resources, and instead of it dividing the people, it brings people together whatever political persuasion.

"Libraries of Things are not just for libraries anymore. In addition to traditional libraries, many other types of organizations are now offering these services. This includes community centers, businesses, and even schools.

"The types of items available at Libraries of Things are also expanding. In addition to traditional tools and equipment, many Libraries of Things now offer a wide variety of other items, such as musical instruments, camping gear, and even party supplies.

"The movement is a great example of how people are coming together to find more sustainable and affordable ways to live. By sharing resources, we can all reduce our impact on the environment, save money and help our community thrive."

https://thepeopleshub.org/library-of-things

#SolarPunkSunday #LibraryOfThingsUS #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule #CircularEconomy #BorrowDontBuy #Sharing

#LibraryOfThings #Ireland

"Library of Things are a growing trend in both the UK and Ireland. These collections of physical objects allow people to borrow instead of buy, which can help to reduce waste and encourage sharing.

"There are now over 20 Library of Things in Ireland, and the number is growing rapidly. Libraries of Things are located in a variety of settings, including libraries, community centers, and even schools.

"The most popular items at Libraries of Things are tools and equipment, followed by games and toys. Library of Things are most popular in urban areas, but they are also starting to become more common in rural areas.

"Libraries of Things are often funded by grants or donations, and they are staffed by volunteers.

Community Spirit

"Community spirit is a strong tradition in Ireland. People are often willing to help out their neighbors and their community. This is evident in the many community-based organizations that exist in Ireland, such as sports clubs, volunteer groups, and community centers.

"Community spirit is important for a number of reasons. It can help to build a sense of belonging and community, it can provide support and resources to those in need, and it can help to make a community a more enjoyable place to live.

"There are many ways to get involved in community spirit in Ireland. You can volunteer your time to a local organization, donate to a worthy cause, or simply get to know your neighbors.

The Benefits of Library of Things and Community Spirit in Ireland

"Library of Things and community spirit have a number of benefits, including:

- Reduced waste: When people borrow instead of buy, they reduce the amount of waste that is produced.
- Encouraged sharing: Libraries of Things and community spirit encourage people to share resources, which can help to build community and reduce costs.
- Access to new things: Libraries of Things and community spirit give people access to new things that they might not otherwise be able to afford or have space for.
- Increased sense of belonging: Libraries of Things and community spirit can help people feel more connected to their community and their neighbors.
- Reduced social isolation: Libraries of Things and community spirit can help people connect with others and reduce social isolation.
- Improved mental and physical health: Libraries of Things and community spirit can help improve mental and physical health by providing opportunities for social interaction, exercise, and relaxation.

Library of Things communities in Ireland:

- #DublinIreland #ToolLibrary: This library has a wide variety of tools and equipment available for loan, including power tools, hand tools, and gardening tools.
- Library of Things, #GalwayIreland: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including sewing machines, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #LimerickIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #CorkCityIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #WexfordIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #BelfastIreland Tool Library: This library has a collection of items such as DIY equipment and tools.
- #KilkennyIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #WaterfordIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.
- #DundalkIreland Library of Things: This library has a collection of items that can be borrowed for free, including tools, musical instruments, and camping gear.

"This is just a small sample of the many Libraries of Things that are available in Ireland. If you are interested in finding a Library of Things near you, you can search online or contact your local library or community center."

FMI:
https://thepeopleshub.org/library-of-things-ireland/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule #LibraryOfThings #CircularEconomy #BorrowDontBuy #Sharing