Walthamstow Tool Library made over 3,000 loans in a year.
You’ve heard of libraries for books – but what about libraries for tools?
Walthamstow Tool Library offers an alternative for locals who need a household tool but don’t want to spend hundreds on something they’re only going to use once. For an annual membership of £10-30, households can visit the library as many times as they want over the year. Operating out of a small space in Priory Court for four years, the library has only grown, and now boasts nearly 500 member households.
For members, the library offers a practical way to save money on unnecessary purchases and avoid keeping bulky tools at home. What they might not realise is the impressive environmental impact. Every new product that’s created has a carbon footprint, so renting instead of purchasing helps lower carbon emissions. With the library making over 3,000 loans in a year, staff estimate the annual carbon savings are around 25 tonnes.
The Walthamstow Tool Library is run by Forest Recycling Project (FRP), a local environmental charity, supported by local volunteers and the community in Priory Court. Alison Griffin, Chief Executive of FRP, is excited about the opportunity the library offers to local residents: "The Walthamstow Tool Library offers over 500 tools for loan for one low annual membership cost. No need to buy, maintain and store tools anymore. It's also a great way to be part of a local community project, and help support its future."
The Walthamstow Tool Library is part of a growing trend of ‘libraries of things’ – places where people can rent household items they need instead of buying them new. Their popularity continues to grow, as consumers put the environment first and think more about green purchasing decisions.
The little library space in Priory Court is bursting at the seams with a huge range of tools that covers any DIY need, from screwdrivers all the way up to electric sanders and lawn mowers. Alison explained how easy it is to find the tool you need at home, saying: “We have an enormous range of DIY and garden tools and you can browse the full inventory online at any time."
The team plans to grow the membership of the library even more this year. They’ve secured funding from the North London Community Fund, run by the North London Waste Authority to support community-based waste reduction initiatives. They hope to work with other tool libraries to share what they’ve learned in their four years of operation, and inspire others to start their own libraries.
