Have you ever found yourself in need of a blender, drill or camping stove but not wanted to deal with the excess cost and waste of owning such an object? Well, the Library of Things can solve all of your household-item-related woes!

As a not-so-wealthy student, I know that I’ve often cursed the heavens for my sad bank statement when wanting to purchase the latest and greatest kitchenware or tools. Why must I be plagued with a kitchen addiction? I have always wanted a KitchenAid mixer.

As I tend to be quite passionate about sustainability and my own environmental impact, my dedication to tools and gadgets is really senseless. The downside of these fabulous items is that they often remain tucked away in the cupboards, collecting dust in between their intermittent usage. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to temporarily have one of these desirable items without having to pay an aggressive price or collect more clutter?

The Better Good on Broadway Avenue has started a thrifty new initiative called the Library of Things. How does it work, you ask? Well, the Library of Things is exactly as self-explanatory as it sounds. Similar to the way you borrow books from a regular library, this library lends out items like mixers, drills, tools, camping gear and so much more!

The Library of Things has the tools you need to build a birdhouse or bake a cake.

Meg Dorwart, a volunteer who helped start up the Library, was excited to explain how it functions. She says that, basically, you need only a membership — which is obtained online with your email address — and then you are free to reserve and borrow items to your heart’s content. No fuss, no muss.

The Library is easily accessible as well. Simply walk into the store anytime on Saturdays from 12 to 5 p.m., head to the basement and take a gander at all there is to offer. There are also some cozy seats and good company as you peruse the selection.

If you want to pick out your goodies beforehand, the Library’s website offers photos and descriptions of rentable items that you can reserve in advance and pick up during the Library’s hours.

See? Easy as pie. This is a great incentive to reduce costs, produce less waste and help out others who might really need to use that juicer you have sitting up in the cupboard — which hasn’t even been taken out of the box yet, because your aunt gave it to you for Christmas and  you feel too guilty to just get rid of it, so it sits there, relentlessly, as a constant reminder of your neglect.

Did you just ask how to become involved? It’s easy. All the items in the Library are donated, and donating is just as easy as borrowing! Consider de-cluttering your home of its less-used items — perhaps a really nice KitchenAid mixer — and helping out your neighbours with your cared-for goods. You can simply send a quick message to the Library to see if your item is needed.

Don’t fret if you regret donating something — the Library of Things will happily return your item to you if you no longer wish to lend it out. If you lack items to donate, your time is just as precious as your donations. Consider taking a shift or two in the space — there’s cool people involved already, just waiting for your company.

It’s easy and brilliant.

You can contact the Library of Things for more information on volunteering and what they need more of — or just to say hello — on Facebook, by email at libraryofthingsyxe@gmail.com or on Twitter @LOTYXE.

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Bailey Christopherson

Photo: Zac Walters