WHAT IS A LIBRARY OF THINGS?

Like a library of books, a Library of Things (LoT) lends various physical items to its members in the local community. We call our LoT the Ilkley Thingery.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ILKLEY THINGERY AND A HIRE SHOP?

There are various differences between a hire shop and a Library of Things, specifically one set up like Ilkley Thingery

• Ilkley Thingery is non-profit and aims to be a community action group and sharing hub, rather than a commercial enterprise.
• We have a wide range of things you can borrow, some of which you won't find in a hire shop.
• We aim to offer Things for loan more cheaply than a hire shop would, and thus to be affordable for everyone.
• We aim to be part of a change in economic behaviour that will reduce waste, through the Library itself and being involved in wider networks of events, campaigns and activities.
• The Thingery works on a membership basis - you can choose how much support you wish to offer when choosing your membership level.

WHO RUNS ILKLEY THINGERY?

Ilkley Thingery is a project set up by Climate Action Ilkley through a generous initial grant from Comply Direct (now known as Beyondly). The set-up of the library was undertaken by a group of 9 people in just a few months.  We are still a work in progress. We're run by volunteers and are looking for more volunteers to help us run the library, and open up on additional days (if you'd like to volunteer, email library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk, or call in to the Thingery during opening hours).

HOW IS ILKLEY THINGERY FUNDED?

Ilkley Thingery became a reality when Climate Action Ilkley were invited by Comply Direct (Now Beyondly), a local B corp company, to apply for a grant to help with a sustainability project. We won the grant funding from them and a small start up grant from Ilkley Town Council and so have enough money to keep running for the first 3 years. After that we are on our own! We need to generate enough income to pay the rent and bills from membership and borrowing.

HOW ARE THE BORROWING FEES AND MEMBERSHIP FEES SPENT?

All the money we make from borrowing and from membership fees is reinvested in the Thingery, to pay for rent and bills. Any excess money received will be used to develop the project or buy new Things.

WHY USE ILKLEY THINGERY?

Save the Environment

First and foremost, borrowing instead of buying can make a big difference to your carbon footprint.

Save Money

The original cost of many of our items can be as much as £300, such as our dehumidifiers and carpet cleaners, so by borrowing for under £20 a week, you could save around £250, especially if you only it borrow once or twice a year.

We also offer concessionary membership, which saves you 75% off all borrows.

Save Space

Ever got frustrated by the fact that your juicer you use once in a blue moon, takes up so much space? Or trying to fit your lawnmower back in the shed every time you use it? By borrowing instead of buying, these kinds of items are a great way to save space in your home!

Connect to your Community

Many of our items are kindly donated by the Ilkley community, and we are building a wonderful team of volunteers who help out in the shop and repair our items. Being a member of Ilkley Thingery, whether you are a regular borrower, volunteer or supporter of our ethos, helps to grow and strengthen the community of Ilkley!

WHAT ITEMS DO WE STOCK?

We have a wide range of items which can be useful and practical, but also fun and entertaining. These are the 10 categories of Things we opened with (we're happy to add more):

• Arts and Crafts– from sewing machines to glue guns
• Baby and Children – from pushchairs to baby mobiles
• Events – from projector screens to bunting
• DIY – from drills to ladders
• Gardening tools – from lawnmowers to hedge trimmers
• Household and Garden – from vacuum cleaners to hammocks
• Kitchen Equipment – from blenders to dehydrators
• Leisure and Camping – from tents to metal detectors
• Music, Media and Audio/Visual – from guitars to speakers
• Sports and Games – from golf clubs to roller blades

HOW DO WE CHOOSE WHICH ITEMS TO STOCK?

We have a criteria for deciding what things we stock. However, if you are looking to declutter, we can take most items and put them in a sale to raise funds:

YES

• Items that are clean, undamaged and in good working order
• Useful items that need replacing regularly
• Spares for our DIY items such as jigsaw blades and sandpaper

• Items that are not repairable
• Items that require a large amount of maintenance
• Gas and petrol items

• Duplicates of less popular items

If you are unsure as to whether we would like your donation, please give us a call or email. For items that we are specifically looking for, see our Wish List.

WHERE DO WE GET OUR ITEMS FROM?

We source our Things from local donations, which means we are using what may otherwise be lying around not being used, or possibly even thrown away. This way, we can make the most of the lives of items, by using less things for longer periods, rather than more things for shorter periods. This helps reduce individual consumption, which not only helps the planet but also helps to develop the strength of the community. Sometimes these items get broken, but we try as hard as we can to fix them - we will be developing a team of repairers.

Occasionally we may also use the funds raised from your membership and borrowing, local business sponsorship, donations and sales profit to buy brand new or more expensive second hand items that we think will be useful to the community. Examples of these might be carpet cleaners, bell tents, gazebos, PA systems and more.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH ITEMS I HAVE THAT ARE BROKEN OR THAT I NO LONGER WANT?

• If you think Ilkley Thingery would benefit from it, have a look at our criteria above and contact us.
• Repair it! We are planning to have a Repair Cafe, where you can bring your broken things. Keep a look out on our website for details.
• There is a Repair Cafe at Otley Courthouse once a month in the meantime.
• You can also post in a local Facebook group to ask for a repair expert.
• Sell it or give it away online on sites like Freecycle, Freegle or local online groups.
• Give it to a charity shop.
• Recycle it – Look up your closest recycling centre. Check out what materials they accept, and any other restrictions before you make the trip.

CAN I REQUEST AN ITEM THAT YOU DON’T HAVE IN STOCK?

Yes! If we think the item will be popular and borrowed often, we’ll either add to our wish list to see if anyone has one they can donate, or we will use our funds to buy a new or second hand one.

HOW DO WE PRICE OUR ITEMS?

We consider various factors including purchase price, quality, condition, size, typical loan length, etc. Items are priced based on this to ensure we remain financially sustainable. We also have a cap to ensure we’re well within market value. Supporter members receive 25% discount on these prices. Low Income members and students receive a 75% discount, helping us to be accessible to all.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS BREAK OR REACH THE END OF THEIR LIFE?

We ask borrowers to flag any damage they notice as soon as possible. This kicks off the repair process and also ensures the next borrower is not let down. For small repairs like unblocking the pressure washer or replacing the jigsaw blades, our small team of local volunteer fixers will try to do simple fixes. When an item is beyond a quick fix, we decide whether it is more efficient to have it professionally mended or simply to donate/sell or recycle it. We understand that items will break eventually and we don’t charge members for these types of breakages. However we do reserve the right to withhold funds if items are deemed to have been broken by serious misuse or neglect.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I BREAK SOMETHING?

Our objective is to make borrowing fair, friendly and fun. We know damages happen, and that 99% of the time these aren't intentional. We simply ask that borrowers are honest and let us know about any damages. We won't charge you for accidental damage or breakages that are part of usual wear and tear.

ARE YOUR THINGS GUARANTEED TO WORK?

All electrical items are PAT-tested. In addition, as far as possible, we test items to see if they work before they ‘go live’ on the catalogue. We ask previous borrowers if items are still in good working order when they return them. We loan all items in good faith believing that they work as intended. That said, things do sometimes fail, we sometimes may not spot an imperfection, and so on. In this case we would of course apologise and offer to refund the credit to your account. If you borrow something that isn't working as it should, please let us know the details so that we can deal with the problem as best we can.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Becoming a Member:

1. Register with us
2. Then Select a Membership Type - follow the link in the email you receive after Registering with us.
3. Once you are a member, you can borrow Things from us.
   

* You have to be a member of the Thingery before you can borrow for insurance cover.

I’M ON YOUR MAILING LIST - DOES THAT MEAN I AM A MEMBER OF THE THINGERY?

No, you must complete the two stage registration process to become a member.

TO BORROW FROM ILKLEY THINGERY, YOU NEED TO:

• Be 18 or over.
• Have an email, so we can send you receipts and important information about your borrow.
• Agree to the Borrower's Agreement and Liability Waiver included in the sign-up process.
• Display a form of ID when you first use us.
• Show proof of benefits for concessionary membership

DO I NEED TO LIVE IN ILKLEY TO BORROW THINGS?

No – you can come from as far as you like! Sometimes its cheaper than buying a new item!

THE 5 SIMPLE RULES OF BORROWING

We want to make borrowing fair, friendly and fun – without hidden catches and sneaky small print. That’s why it’s important that all our borrowers agree to these 5 simple rules of borrowing:

• Bring the item back clean and tidy.
• Bring the item back on time so the next borrower isn’t kept waiting, and to avoid late fees!
• Make sure you know how to use the item properly by following appropriate instructions (often displayed on the item’s listing in the online inventory, or ask one of our volunteers for help in the shop, or search for them online).
• Tell us about any damages immediately here so we can fix or replace in time for the next borrower.
• Share your feedback, stories & ideas here so we can keep improving Ilkley Thingery for future borrowers – We love it when people post reviews online.

HOW DO I RESERVE THINGS?

Become a member of Ilkley Thingery. You can then make a reservation online by signing in to our website, finding for the Thing you want to borrow, and clicking ‘Reserve’ on the item you want. Then select a date for pick up and return on an onscreen calendar. If you want to add more items to this reservation, simply ‘Reserve’ each item you want to add them to your reservation trolley.  When you've selected everything you want, click ‘Complete Reservation’. You can also phone during opening hours (01943 513818) or email us (libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk) if you are having any issues reserving online and need us to reserve it for you.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE COLLECT AN ITEM I HAVE RESERVED?

Yes. However,  payment is taken when you collect the item - the person collecting will need to pay for the item. You can add credit to your account, to be used for payment on collection. If you haven't added credit to your account, the person collecting will need to pay for the item.  

ARE CONSUMABLES LIKE CARPET CLEANING TABLETS AND SANDPAPER INCLUDED?

Not at the moment, but we will be introducing this as an option in the future.

HOW LONG CAN I RESERVE ITEMS FOR?

There is no maximum borrowing time. The likely loan length is factored in to the per-day price.

HOW MANY THINGS CAN I BORROW AT ONE TIME?

No.

HOW DO I CANCEL A RESERVATION?

Log in to your account online, and click on your username in the top right corner. Click on ‘Reservations’. You can then find the reservation and click ‘Cancel’. If you are unsure, drop us an email or give us a call during our opening hours.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T RETURN THE ITEM WITHIN OPENING HOURS?

If you need to extend your loan, first, check nobody else has reserved the Thing. If your Thing is available, you can select the additional days you need it for, and extend your loan. If your Thing has been booked by another member, you’ll have to return it at the time it is due back or email us if that's not possible to let us know what's happened. If the Thing is not returned or extended, we will charge a daily late fee. We do this to encourage the items to be ready for other borrowers, who can see via the inventory when an item is due in.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE AN ITEM OR IT IS STOLEN FROM ME?

As mentioned above, it is not always the borrowers fault and mistakes happen, but we ask that you are honest about what has happened so we can start looking for a replacement or fix. For higher value items that require a deposit, we reserve the right to keep this in order to replace the item.

DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING WITH ME WHEN I BORROW ITEMS?

The first time you borrow you will need to bring proof of who you are and of your address, e.g., a driving licence or passport and utility bill. If you have neither of these and no other photographic proof of address, we can accept two non-photographic forms of ID e.g., a utility bill and a bank statement.

If you have signed up for the Concessionary membership we will need to see proof of benefits received (e.g., Jobseekers Allowance, PIP, Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Income Support from within the last 3 months).

HOW DOES THE PRICING WORK?

Prices displayed are the per-day price for a Standard member unless you're logged in to your account - if you're logged in, you'll see the price per day for your membership.

Prices are set for a one day borrow.. if you want Things for a longer period we adjust/ reduce the borrowing fee so that it's still attractive to borrow those Things from us rather than buying them.

WHY ARE SOME SIMILAR ITEMS PRICED DIFFERENTLY?

Our pricing formula is made up of multiple variables. Among others these include the quality and condition of the item. If you see two similar drills priced differently, for example, then this will be because one is of better quality or in better condition than the other.

HOW DO I PAY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND BORROWING?

You pay for membership and borrowing online via card. Our payment processing provider is Stripe. Stripe is a PCI Service Provider Level 1, which is the highest grade of payment processing security. You can also pay with cash. If you are having difficulty making a payment, please contact us at libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO BORROW THINGS? (WHY ISN’T IT FREE LIKE A BOOK LIBRARY?)

Public book libraries are free at the point of borrowing but they are paid for in your Council Tax. The Thingery needs to cover its expenses.

LATE FEES

In order to make the service run as smoothly as possible for all members, any item(s) not returned on time will be charged a £3 fee for each day that the item(s) are not returned. It is therefore very important that you contact us if you feel you won’t be able to get your item(s) back on time. You can either call us during open hours on 01943 513818 or email us outside of open hours at libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

NON-COLLECTION FEE

If for any reason you do not come and collect your item at your arranged time, you may still be charged for the loan. This is because by reserving the item you will have made it unavailable for any other member to reserve during that time. If for any reason you think you will NOT be able to collect your items on time, please let us know in good time so that we can rearrange collection or make the item available for others. You can either call us during open hours on 01943 513 818 or email us outside of open hours at libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk

OTHER FEES

Other fees are rare. It’s extremely rare that items come back not cleaned or damaged/lost. Whenever that does happen we aim to resolve the matter in the best interest of all involved. Our policies are in place to ensure a smooth and well-oiled system is maintained for the benefit of all users.

CLEANING FEES

We are unable to provide a cleaning service due to lack of facilities, so we are relying on each borrower bringing the item back as clean as possible. If an item is deemed to have been returned in an unsatisfactory state, you will either be asked to take it back home and clean it before returning it later the same day, or be issued a cleaning fee of minimum £5.

LOSS & DAMAGE FEES

We ask borrowers to flag any damage they notice as soon as possible. This kicks off the repair process and also ensures the next borrower is not let down. Our small team of local volunteer fixers will try to do simple fixes like unblocking the pressure washer or replacing the jigsaw blades. When an item is beyond a quick fix, we decide whether it is more efficient to have it professionally mended, or simply to donate/sell or recycle it. We understand that items will break eventually and we don’t charge members for these types of breakages. However, we do reserve the right to charge for items that are deemed to have been broken by serious misuse or neglect. If this is the case and the item is beyond repair the member will be asked to either buy a replacement or pay the replacement cost.

WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT ILKLEY THINGERY?

As well as the most obvious thing of becoming a member (premium supporter membership is the best way to support us) and borrowing from us, there are a few other things you can to support us:

• You can volunteer with us.
• You can donate money or items.
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Read and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Spread the word about us and encourage others to sign up! Share us on social media and tell people about your borrowing experience.

HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT YOUR AIMS OF REDUCING WASTE AND CONSUMPTION?

We are in favour of attempts to waste less, move towards “zero waste” and develop the sharing economy. Beyond using the Library you can support our mission in your own life by making efforts to consume fewer things and waste less. Here are some ideas:

• Share more things with neighbours/ friends/family.
• Be more mindful about what you really need to buy .
• Buy second-hand.
• Buy good-quality things from ethical suppliers that will last longer than cheap alternatives.
• Extend the life of your things by repairing them. If you don’t know how, come along to one of our repair cafes and learn or have it done for you.
• Don’t throw away your unwanted things if they could be reused or repurposed (try selling them, giving to us or to charity shops, or putting them on Freecycle).
• You might encourage your workplace or other organisations you’re involved with to adopt some of these ideas as well.

CAN I DONATE THINGS TO THE THINGERY?

Yes we are happy to accept donations of various Things, as long as the items are working and are in reasonable condition. Please contact libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk if you have items you wish to donate.

CAN WE DONATE THINGS BUT KEEP THEM AT HOME SO PEOPLE COLLECT THEM FROM US?

At present we do not have that facility, however, we may be able to do this in the future.