Library of Things is coming to the Barbican Library this spring

We’re excited to share that Library of Things is launching a new location at the Barbican Library this spring, bringing affordable access to handy household, DIY and cleaning items to residents in the City of London for the very first time.

Opening on March 30th, this new location means residents can access useful items - from drills and carpet cleaners to sewing machines and sound systems - for a small daily fee.

💡 Why this matters

Our mission has always been simple: make borrowing easy, affordable and convenient for people, communities and the planet. Many everyday items are only used occasionally, so sharing them saves money, cuts clutter and reduces waste.

The service aligns with a growing shift towards more mindful, sustainable consumption. We’re proud to be joining a neighbourhood where some brilliant initiatives are already championing sharing and sustainability, such as:

• Active borrower groups building neighbourhood connections
• Fix it for Free repair workshops helping extend the life of belongings
• Give and Take events where neighbours swap useful items

This partnership between LoT, the City of London and the Barbican Library is a bit of a big deal because it places sharing, sustainability and community right at the heart of one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods and a space well-known for learning, community connection and forward-thinking ideas. It is supported by City of London Corporation’s Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund,

🧰 What you can expect from the new lockers

• Affordable access - access quality items from reputable brands for just a few pounds per day
• Concession memberships - 25% off rentals for those facing cost-of-living pressures (no questions asked)
• Space saving - no need to store bulky tools you rarely use
• Less waste - share instead of buying new
• Community powered - shaped by local demand and feedback

Residents can already register interest and vote for which items they’d like stocked in the lockers.

🌍 Part of a bigger movement

Founded in 2016 by Emma Shaw, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sophia Wyatt, our women-led social enterprise was inspired by sharing projects in cities like Berlin and Toronto. We launched our first self-service lockers in Crystal Palace in 2018 - and City of London Library of Things will mark our 23rd London location.

We work with partners including Bosch, Kärcher and STIHL to supply reliable tools that help communities repair, maintain and create.

Across London, our community has:

👥 40,000+ borrowers

📦 80,000+ borrows

💰 ~£11 million saved from not buying new

♻️ ~500 tonnes of waste prevented - enough to fill 40 waste trucks

🗣 What people are saying

Local residents shared their thoughts during workshops run by Stby:

“I don't want a big ladder in my house… If this can be borrowed, that would be very interesting.”

“You’ve got 2,000 flats surrounding us - no one needs to own a carpet cleaner.”

“The advantage is that items are checked and safe to use.”

Alison Gowman, lead member for climate action, urban greening and biodiversity, added that shared tools are “a very practical step towards helping our environment.”

📅 What’s next?

Collections will be available from 30th March, with a community launch event planned for April with more details to come. Watch this space 👀

Want to shape what’s available? Residents can register interest and vote for items they’d like to see in the lockers.