Talking LoTs
Advice for setting up your own lending library.
We've learned a lot setting up our Library of Things (LoT). Here are our notes for anyone who wants to start their own.
Content from the conference
The topics we covered:
Premises and Products
Choosing premises and a lease, deciding what to stock, keeping lending safe and laying out the space.
Operational and IT Systems
Booking and payment systems, loan periods, and what to do about breakages, late returns and pricing.
People and Policies
How to organise volunteers, staff and a board, plus recruitment, health & safety, insurance and community engagement.
Partnerships and Funding
What it costs to run a LoT, where the money can come from, what fees bring in, and building partnerships.
The big questions
What's the heart of your project? Agree the principles behind your LoT early, alongside the practical work. Differences in philosophy can split a board later on.
What's the difference you want to make by setting up an LoT?
Sustainability, social inclusion, community building, or a mix? Your answer shapes everything else.
Who are the people you want to serve?
Just the immediate neighbourhood or anyone who can reach you? Which groups do you especially want to include?
What items would you say no to?
Practical tools only, or leisure and party items too? Petrol-driven kit?
What role do you want to play in the local economic eco-system?
Compete with local businesses or complement them? Who would you partner with, and who wouldn't you?
Resources
Useful things for setting up and running a LoT.
Funding presentation
The pitch we made to a local housing association (First Garden City Homes).
Volunteer Taster Session
Taster session documentHousekeeping
Daily and weekly checklistPrivacy and T&Cs
Volunteer Agreement
Setting out what volunteers and the Shed can expect of each other.
Lend Engine
Our guide to the catalogue, membership and booking system.
EDI Policy
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
Useful links
Event Cycle
Rehomes kit left over from corporate events, like shelving and signage.
Charterpath
Financial support if you have no finance volunteer locally.
Small Charity Finance
Finance support for small charities.
Charity Excellence
A starting point for grant searches if you're a charity.
EFN GFF: Funding opportunities
Environmental Funding Network's list of funders.
Clarion Housing Group
A detailed application, but it funded our training.
Cory Group
An annual autumn round for environmental projects in London and the South East.
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