What is Edinburgh Library of Things?
A Library of Things is as good as it sounds. With a childlike imagination, I thought of all of the things I’d like to borrow. And so I invited them to use my studio space. The concept is simple, ELoT keep an inventory of lots of things that members can borrow. “What things?” I hear you ask.
So far we’ve borrowed a pasta maker, juicer, sewing machine, food mill, mattress hoover, airfryer, slow cooker, trestle table and sous vide machine (I’m still figuring this one out). In better weather we may borrow the yurt and ice-cream maker…
Living in a one-bedroomed flat in Leith means that space is at a premium. Family members were singing the praises of an air fryer. “If you love cooking, you really must get one.” I was told. I’m so glad I borrowed one and discovered it’s just not my thing. I like my hob and oven, works fine for me. We really did enjoy borrowing the pasta maker though and t’other half (he’s from Yorkshire) became expert at making ravioli. He was so excited we contemplated buying one, and then we realised we could just borrow it whenever we have a homemade pasta urge. Much easier, and less stuff for us to store in our over-crowded kitchen cupboards.
Founders Alix and Phoebe are an enlightened pair, and a pleasure to share studio space with. I asked them why they launched ELoT:
“We were both really taken with the idea of communal ownership and reducing waste. We wanted to start something that could shift the way other people view economics and their participation in systems that can be harmful to the planet and other people.”
“The current economic model doesn’t centre people or the planet. As Kate Raworth says in her book Doughnut Economics, “Simply rebutting the dominant frame will, ironically, only serve to reinforce it. And without an alternative to offer, there is little chance of entering, let alone winning, the battle of ideas.” Basically, we got tired of constant existential dread and decided to do something about it. We are trying to offer people an alternative to endless consumerism.”
“By building a pool of shared items, we can all enjoy access to the things we want and need, without having to buy into extractive, predatory practices designed to take our wealth and funnel it upward to the billionaires. We want people to have everything they could ever want, AND keep their money, AND feel very free to choose to make ice-cream at home with their kids one week, go camping the next, and not worry about how they’re going to afford it or where to store things or any of that.”
“Even if we’re only saving 10s of kilos of waste from landfill and saving Edinburgh residents 1000s of pounds, a slow start is a START, and that impact will keep compounding. You have to get going on things even if it’s a gradual build while people’s mindsets shift, and the word spreads.”
Organic growth is slower than social media fuelled hyperactivity, but more sustainable in the long-term. As consumers, we rarely think things through when we throw money at the newest gadget. So ELoT can save you money, storage space and also help the environment. Sliding membership fees are designed to be affordable for all.
My favourite loan is the old German sewing machine, like the one I learnt on in the 80’s. I stopped sewing as a teenager after a nasty incident involving a needle going through my finger. I’d wanted to sew again but had built it up in my head as a painful experience. So I borrowed a machine, and in my own home and own time, tentatively sewed a few squares, then a bag, and then a synthesiser cover for t’other half from fabric I’d been hoarding for 20 years.
As Alix says:
“We literally cannot sustain an infinite growth model on our precious Mother Earth, so either we get ourselves together and centre mutual flourishing with all planetary inhabitants (human and more-than-human) at the heart of our economic model, or we will go extinct and the tech bros can have fun in the wastelands trying to produce wealth from a dead planet when they run out of food in their bunkers.”
“Circular economy will play a huge part if we decide a solution is preferable to extinction, and that can look like a lot of things. It encompasses sharing libraries like us, but definitely doesn’t stop there. It also includes more robust reuse models and improved logistics, making more infrastructure around ensuring that usable goods and materials do not go to landfill under any circumstances.”
Photo credit: Daniel Long
Items shown: Folding Chair, Hand Steam Cleaner, Foot Pump, Sewing Machine, Soldering Kit, Pasta Machine, Standing Mixer, Desk Easel, Carpet Cleaner
Check out ELoT online at www.elot.org.uk or in the Griffen Fitness studio on Fridays (where they often run repair and grow
events). Please help spread the word too.
Photo credit: Daniel Long
