To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. In Microsoft 365, you can create a site from the SharePoint start page. She's the author of Coworking Out Loud, a guide to content marketing for coworking space operators. Access to a space for locating a collection and creating a research and reading space. DeDeelkelder in Utrect, Netherlands allows you to paddle right up to the Library of Things as they operate out of what used to be wharf storage space that has been converted into a community resource, and more recently, out of a pop-up shop. As Margret Aldrich, author of the Little Free Library Book told Shareable, neighbors started coming over to visit as soon as she put a Little Free Library in her yard. What are the challenges of doing so? Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Library of Things enables communities to share items they only need occasionally, such as party supplies and games. resource format: Article. As Homicki says, myTurn allows new lending libraries to use the “best practices baked right into the platform” and focus on the things that are unique to their community. Don’t let one or a few missing skillsets stop you from getting going. These types of events build community and bring people into the space so they can see what it is all about. The best pricing model is going to depend on your local community, needs and your goals for your Library of Things. A Library of Things inventory should reflect the needs and desires of the community. An offshoot of an existing organization or library? For example, the Missoula Urban Development project runs a Tool and Kitchen Library out of multiple shipping containers, the London Library of Things also just opened in a reclaimed shipping container. Almost every library we’ve helped get started has run out of space—especially the ones that accept donations of items from the community. To get started, we recommend putting together—or borrowing from an existing Library—an initial wish list, then get feedback from potential members of the Library of Things to see what they want. Follow @CatJohnson on Twitter. So far, we’re seeing all types of items like hand and power tools, baby carriers, board and video games, sporting goods, bread makers, drones, party supplies, camping gear and just about anything else you can imagine. We recommend starting by getting the word out via local blogs, visiting meetings of other community and business groups, and then moving on to more traditional media. Camping gear can be a great way to help introduce more people to the outdoors and nature. To get started, we recommend putting together—or borrowing from an existing Library—an initial wish list, then get feedback from potential members of the Library of Things to see what they want. But Design Systems are much more; Sketch also may be used for many other digital design purposes. I recommend mapping out the skills your team does have and find advisors to help you fill out the skills your team might be missing. For nonprofits and co-ops, we recommend accepting donations of items from the community. Things that are in high demand, or where the low-cost versions break down often, for example, pressure washers. How To Make A Library Outing Fun. *Required field. Also work with local government or building owners of vacant space. By Cat Johnson. The best Libraries of Things start out building a place to borrow and share things, and end up building a community. You also want to stock items that are both durable and repairable, since they’ll see a lot more use than the typical power drill that is only used for 10 to 20 minutes over its life before being disposed of. Now, Libraries of Things are rolling together all the things people only infrequently need and bringing them together in one place, so they have something for everyone. As an example, the Santa Rosa Tool Library operates out of extra storage space for a local architecture firm that supports their mission. Once someone decides to create a Library of Things, what are the first steps to get started? What pricing or membership structure do you recommend? You wouldn’t have to buy, repair or store infrequently used items. This article has been viewed 26,883 times. Please check your email for further instructions. For example, SHARE – A Library of Things, in Frome, England, which was the first permanent library of things, offers a whole packet of information about how they got started and includes sample forms and procedures. We promise not to spam you. Co-authors: 17. A library is one of the most important community buildings. You’d have access to a much wider variety of goods than you could ever own, and you could easily share things with neighbors. Useful skills to have include project management, bookkeeping and finance, fundraising, legal, marketing, design and technology. utility companies use it to share energy efficiency tools with builders. What are the biggest challenges or hurdles to opening one? Some funds or other way of supplying materials needed; ingenuity can go a long way in creating a library. Library of Things is any collection of objects loaned at no charge, and any organization that practices such loaning. There are also newer insurance services that focus on the sharing economy and on-demand economy. Credit: Sanne van Vliet. If you’re starting as a nonprofit, you can often find discounted or pro-bono legal and other professional services. Beyond your personal catalog, LibraryThing's social aspects show and aggregate tags, ratings, reviews, and Common Knowledge (facts about a book or author, like series and awards). We asked Homicki for his top tips for starting a Library of Things. Things to avoid are items that are not durable or made to hold up to high usage. Shareable connected with Gene Homicki, co-founder and CEO of myTurn, an online platform that makes it easy for anyone to start and manage a Library of Things. In turn, this sense of ownership helps reduce the number of items that are not returned or are returned late because not returning an item would be like stealing from your neighbor or even yourself. They create a sense of place and connect people while supporting literacy. Cat helps coworking spaces and collaborative organizations tell their stories, amplify their message and grow their communities. Don’t reinvent the wheel when you don’t have to. Running a crowdfunding campaign can also be a great way to help start or expand a tool or kitchen library into a Library of Things. To start our church library, I used address labels, envelopes, index cards, rubber cement, and contact paper. Many public libraries are self-insured through their municipality, or can get an additional rider on their existing policy for their Library of Things, if needed. These are really similar skills needed to start any organization or business. Once you have people coming in the door—which is usually not difficult—building and connecting that community is important. LibraryThing helps you create and track a library-quality catalog of your media—books (along with movies and music) you own, have read, want to read, etc. The University of Cambridge alone has 115, not to mention the ones in the communityand schools, and the other university of which Cambridge is home. Are there best practices in dealing with landlords or owners? The Sharing Depot in Toronto is Canada's first Library of Things. A Library of Things should be stocked with items that need little maintenance and hold up to heavy use. Photo: Liselotte van Wickeren. This article focuses on the importance of a library in a community and a few significant things essential to start a library. Thus, it is necessary to understand how tax dollars are collected, then allocated in your state (and each one is different! The Sharing Depot in Toronto recently moved from a basement space to ground-floor retail that allows people just walking down the block to see, and covet, the things they can borrow. The model that seems to be the most sustainable and popular is the one with monthly or yearly subscription fee, and then having additional fees for more expensive or popular items. You wouldn’t have to buy, repair or store infrequently used items. Many designers think of the Design System Kit for Sketch as of the UI Controls Library. This often makes it very easy to build your initial inventory. I suppose one might find it strange that an academic librarian would have his own library. The platform is used by over 130 tool, kitchen and other community lending libraries, as well as hundreds of nonprofits, universities, municipalities and enterprises. Whether you use our platform or another, we recommend bringing in a technology platform to manage the library right away. It’s easier to rent a vibrant space with foot traffic than an empty one, so this often works out as a win-win situation. ThinkBox, a children’s library for books and toys started in 2008 in Bengaluru’s Malleshpalya main road. Simply fill a covered box or cabinet with an array of books and leave it somewhere near your home. Here are 27 free things at the library. I read a few books to them while they’re there. If you are opening the first Library of Things in your area, getting media can be almost as easy as getting donations of items for your inventory. Cat Johnson is a writer and content strategist focused on coworking, collaboration and community. Kinder to the planet. All sorts of kitchen tools like bread makers, ice cream and pasta makers or other items that most people find to be fun but don’t use every day are useful. What options are there for organizational structure of a Library of Things? This is another area where I especially recommend talking with potential members to see what they can, and are willing to, afford, and try to be as inclusive as possible, ensuring there is a way everyone can use your Library of Things. If you're in SharePoint Server, you can create a team or a number of other types of sites. location of relevance: The Netherlands. Overview: How to Start of Library of Things (also applies to Tool Libraries) from Shareable.net Latest Items: Library of Things eBook from Shareable.net How Libraries of Things build resilience, fight climate change, […] And more than just access to stuff, Libraries of Things typically build community by offering classes and a place where people can share not just things, but also ideas and skills. She's the author of Coworking Out Loud, a guide to content marketing for coworking space operators. In addition to finding local volunteers, nonprofits may also be able to tap into AmeriCorps volunteers. Borrow useful Things for your home, projects and adventures. Let us know in comments. Pay one membership or subscription fee, and you can borrow everything from camping gear, to a popcorn maker—how awesome is that? ). Magazine, Utne Reader, GOOD, Shareable, Triple Pundit, Mother Jones, Future Perfect and Lifehacker. A budget? This movement, and the buzz behind it, really started with tool libraries and kitchen libraries and other speciality lending libraries, most of which got their start using myTurn. Also, when members of the community contribute to starting the Library of Things, they become invested, both literally and figuratively, in its success. Publications include Yes! How do you suggest people find a space? At myTurn, we can provide advice on the most popular types of items in areas similar to your new Library of Things, and even ones that have proven to be more repairable and durable. We’ve seen tool, kitchen and now Library of Things start to rapidly pop-up now that, from the start, you can sign up members and let the community see your inventory (or your wish list) online right from the start. I’ll start with the second. For these types of items, we strongly suggest purchasing the most durable and repairable items you can afford. chainsaws), need a lot of maintenance or calibration between each use, or that need—and can be difficult—to clean between every use. At myTurn we help on the electronic side, but there are often data security and other procedures for how you handle user data locally that can still apply. 55 votes - 78%. You have solidified groups to cram for exams and you’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Laws and regulations vary from municipality to municipality, state to state and country to country and we typically recommend at least talking with a commercial real estate expert. Many public libraries are looking for ways to stay relevant and increase the services they offer to their communities, therefore many of these institutions are receptive to the idea of expanding to lend out more types of items. To organize my library I depend on both of these orders of order. In seeking to develop a school library, a few aspects need to exist or be planned for: A committed vision. How to Start a Library of Things. If you’re already familiar with a platform, handling those unexpected spikes in activity are much easier. These might be more appropriate if, and when, a Library of Things helps facilitate rentals or sharing directly between their members in a peer-to-peer fashion. Establish a funding plan and determine the sustainability of that plan. Also encourage your members and class participants to tell their friends about the Library of Things. Cooperative? What are some of the best ways you've seen people building community around a Library of Things? There are some items that you just can’t get via donation. At what point does a tech solution become necessary? Is it possible to create a library without software? People-powered solutions for the common good, DeDeelkelder Library of Things in Utrect, Netherlands. Shareable connected with Gene Homicki, co-founder and CEO of myTurn, an online platform that makes it easy for anyone to start and manage a Library of Things. The platform is used by over 130 tool, kitchen and other community lending libraries, as well as hundreds of nonprofits, universities, municipalities and enterprises. What are some valuable or necessary skills? Publications include Yes! Check with developers and landlords that are looking to support a more resilient community and might be willing to provide discounted or even free space. Browse the Things. If you’re getting started in the US, Canada or an area with a good mix of incomes and socioeconomic status, there are almost always some people who have too much stuff in their garages, closets, attics and storage spaces that are happy to get items back into use. Summary. Good examples for a starter list include tools, like a tile saw or floor sander that you might only need for one project or that not everyone can afford. This is the idea behind a Library of Things. Location, Location, Location. It’s really exciting when you first come up with, or learn about, a library that lends tools, camping gear, games and other things, rather than just books. Reading posts about Libraries of Things on Shareable is a great start and there are other resources online including the ShareStarter.org site, as well as existing Libraries of Things to learn from. As the Library of Things movement gains steam, we’re going to see new spaces popping up that range from the rugged to the high-end retail. Again, it is really important that as you are planning your Library of Things that you survey your members and potential members to see what they would want and need—and create and post a wish list. Would you like to start a lending library in your neighborhood, but aren’t sure what it would take? date published: August 15, 2016. The more you can have streamlined and working smoothly from the start, the easier the learning curve will be after launch. The best items for a Library of Things are those that people want and need, but might not have the space to store, the money to purchase, or the need to use all the time. The Things Events. It’s easiest to locate your exchange box on a post on your own property. Are there things that don't work well? At myTurn, we even field calls from local TV and radio stations wanting to know if there is a Library of Things in their area because they have heard about them and would love to do a story about them. We strongly recommend doing market research in your community before you open to ensure the items you’re going to carry are the ones that are most appropriate for your area. Libraries of Things can get really creative with their spaces though. I do a couple of things to make it stay fun for my kids: I allow us plenty of time to peruse, play, do any activities they have, and just browse through all those glorious books. What other questions do you have for Gene about opening or running a Library of Things? Membership or subscription-based: where you pay a yearly or monthly fee and then check items out for free, Charging a per-item rental/loan fee, similar to a traditional rental shop, More expensive or in-demand items may require an additional fee, Different membership levels may offer different percentage discounts on per-item fees—or number of items you can have out at once, Completely free: typically used by public libraries, but also some community Library of Things. Convenient. Updated: August 16, 2018. Photo: The Sharing Depot. But home libraries can be a dynamic expression of the owner's personality. Any gotchas people should watch out for when opening a Library of Things? Locate a space for your library that's easily accessible by public transportation, has free parking and is located on the ground floor to encourage walk-ins. Disclosure: MyTurn is an in-kind sponsor of Shareable offering website maintenance and other technical support. What kind of space works the best for a library of things, and what requirements are there of the space, in regards to infrastructure? With a non-profit or co-op model, people are often very open to donating their own underutilized items to help support what is clearly a community resource. Imagine a traditional mom and pop rental shop with a gaggle of items everywhere, to spaces that look more like an Apple store or Tesla dealership that are ultra modern. In the US, we know a number of Library of Things that have had luck with Philadelphia Insurance as they often write policies for nonprofits and more unique businesses. This board focuses on all things library, including activities, programs, lessons, organization + other ideas. In the United States and some other countries, too, libraries (including those of many community colleges) are tied together in these cooperative networks. SHARE Library of Things in Frome, England is the first of its kind in the U.K. Photo: James Bartholomew. Affordable. The concept of a Library of Things isn’t new; toy libraries have been around since the 1970s and tool libraries also flourished back then, especially in the USA. As you prepare to open, team members with management (retail, volunteer management if you’re a nonprofit, etc.) The London Library of Things originally started in a public library in 2014, but, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, it’s moving into its own space later this month. In addition to insurance, also be careful of other legal requirements. You can now choose to collect or get Things delivered to your door in Crystal Palace and surrounding areas. Gene Homicki: More and more people are realizing the joy of being able to access the things they need, without the burden of owning and storing them. I began building my own personal library when I was in 7th grade and that obsession continued to the present day, although now I build it digitally. The first thing to do when planning your own Little Library is to decide where to place it. What kind of insurance options are there for a Library of Things? Bringing others in early and learning what resources are available helps ensure you don’t feel too overwhelmed and, besides, it’s more fun to plan and work with others. I would have loved to have access to hundreds of toys and games as a kid (and love it now!). The first three to six months of being open tend to be hectic and a learning experience, and often growth will happen faster than expected. Photo: The Sharing Depot in Toronto. We’re still in the early stages of Libraries of Things, and there will continue to be experimentation going on. Be sure to try build something bigger than yourself. Diverse backgrounds and skillsets are ideal, but not completely necessary. Kinder to the planet. You could start asking for donations from people in your local community or your workplace. We typically recommend a core team of three to seven people so you’re not doing everything yourself, and you have a variety of skills on the team. What’s behind the excitement? Get the most out of your local library with help from wikiHow's Libraries category! One of our first customers, the Vancouver Tool Library, manages both their co-op membership and their tool library membership via our platform. We currently have over 130 libraries lending to the public on the myTurn platform, and all of those structures—co-op, nonprofit, for profit, public library and offshoot of an existing organization—are represented by our customers. The Library of Things get a pop-up space for a pilot, and the landlord ends up with a more valuable space. Set up a book exchange hub if you lack the means to start a larger library. Objects often include kitchen appliances, tools, gardening equipment and seeds, electronics, toys and games, art, science kits, craft supplies, musical instruments, and recreational equipment. Libraries of Things should focus on trying to get more durable and repairable items that can be reused over and over. Putting books back on the shelves is only helpful if you actually know where they came from. According to my informal survey, the one thing that Cambridge has the vastest number of is, not pesky punt tour promoters, but libraries. Whether you’re a nonprofit, for profit, co-op or other type of organization looking to start a public Library of Things, we do recommend at least putting together basic business plan. The membership fees give you a steady stream of income, while the additional fees help ensure you can maintain—or purchase more of—popular and more expensive items. Accepting donations also gives more people in the community a sense of ownership and accomplishment, because they’ve helped make the library of success. For more than a decade now, it continues to function, though her son is now 21 years old. Photo: Jim Wilson/The New York Times. What types of items work best in a Library of Things? The Library of Things in a Nutshell. If you’re operating your Library of Things as formal business, you’ll likely be going with a traditional lease. Imagine going into a neighborhood shop to borrow tools, kitchen appliances, camping gear, party supplies, sports equipment, musical instruments, and more. At this point, the for-profit model offers the biggest risk—and reward. Nonprofit? Start a Small Library. Locations . Here are things to pack BEFORE you leave for the lib because we all know once you go in, it’s hard to get out. Cat Johnson is a writer and content strategist focused on coworking, collaboration and community. Imagine going into a neighborhood shop to borrow tools, kitchen appliances, camping gear, party supplies, sports equipment, musical instruments, and more. Personally, I like the co-op model, where community members have a direct stake in the success of the library. Rather than a 20-page formal business plan that almost no one will look at, we recommend using the Social Lean Canvas or one of the other business canvas templates that have come out of the lean business movement. Thus, libraries share their books and other materials with each other through use of mobile vans. Affordable. Emphasis is on school libraries, but there's plenty in here for public libraries too. Toys, board games, and especially pricey video games are also great items to have, as some parents can’t afford them and kids can get tired of them quickly. We’ve had customers start to enter inventory as it comes in and, more importantly, sign up paying members months before their library opens. Again, cover the basics so you have a general idea of what you’ll need to start and manage the library, but you don’t need to have every piece in place before moving forward. I’d even recommend doing some fun events. Advertisement. We recommend adding classes and workshops as soon as you have the ability to do so. About . About . As Homicki says, myTurn allows new lending libraries to use the “best practices baked right into the platform” and focus on the things that are unique to their community. Sign up Sign in. A “Library of Things” program in Sacramento, California has started to loan out all kinds of stuff that people may want to use, once in a while, but not own. The computers don't work, there is too little selection, it is an unorganized mess, the books they do have are outdated or no one has touched them in years (this isn't all of them). Do they purchase it or get it donated? In fact, we hope to see more “sharing centers” and fewer shopping centers in the future. You also get a SharePoint team site whenever you create a Microsoft 365 group in Outlook Online or Microsoft 365. Some rights reserved under a modified CC license. For example, a games night where members and friends come and play some of the games at the Library of Things. With the large number of organizations using our platform, at myTurn we can even make recommendations on the some of the best items to purchase for a lending library based on usage and durability statistics. Photo: James Bartholomew. Talk with others who have done it already, then start defining the plan that is right for your community. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Communities use myTurn to share tools and home goods, universities use it for bike and equipment lending, and utility companies use it to share energy efficiency tools with builders. What other things are necessary? Likewise, you may want to start a lending library associated with your church, school or retirement community and carry titles that will cater to the interests of your constituency. Imagine going into a neighborhood shop to borrow tools, kitchen appliances, camping gear, party supplies, sports equipment, musical instruments, and more. It doesn’t get much better than that. I'd like to start a library that is better marketed so more people know about it, is more technically sound, and is a flat out better place to get books. While you can start without technology, once you get beyond a couple dozen items or members it becomes very burdensome to manage a Library of Things without a software platform. How are these best handled? Good examples for a starter list include tools, like a tile saw or floor sander that you might only need for one project or that not everyone can afford. To an extent, this depends on the type of organization, budget and where you are. We’re looking at these types of options and potentially offering insurance via our platform to remove one more pain point from getting started. A Library of Things looks a lot like either a library or a rental shop to insurers, so there tend to be different options depending on how you form your Library of Things. Since Libraries of Things can help reduce consumption and waste, while providing access to items many people can’t afford to buy, going the nonprofit route can open up funding from local government, community foundations and people who are willing to donate toward helping address these important social and environmental issues. How does a Library of Things obtain their inventory? Locations . One Library of Things switched to our platform due to the difficulties and extra work volunteers had to do due to their home-grown solution. For small nonprofits and community groups, we recommend trying to find partner organizations that already have potentially underutilized space. For libraries that rely on volunteers, make sure managing the library is as easy as possible to help reduce volunteer burnout. Sign in Sign up. The team is also creating a toolkit and bootcamp to help others set up a Library of Things in the UK and beyond. He also provides a couple of tips, with a special reference to children’s books.The collection of a library … Posted by cambridgechildrenslit. Parth and one of the first library members. See more on her coworking blog. Borrow useful Things for your home, projects and adventures. If you love the library, you might even consider working at the library and becoming a … myTurn is used by numerous library of things, providing the software for tracking loans and more. Convenient. Follow Cat on Twitter: @CatJohnson. skills, and also skills to maintain and repair the items in your Library of Things can be exceedingly useful. Insider spoke to former library employees who shared some of the worst things people do in libraries. What's the future for Libraries of Things? The Denver Tool Library is even holding a concert series with local bands. Think of an old-fashioned card catalog–the kind you used to see at libraries. Any tips for getting the word out? You’d have access to a much wider variety of goods than you could ever own, and you could easily share things with neighbors. Photo: The Sharing Depot. Communities use myTurn to share tools and home goods, universities use it for bike and equipment lending, and utility companies use it to share energy efficiency tools with builders. However, there is still some time left in the semester and finals and a lot of time spent in the library is in your near future. For example, there are data privacy requirements in Canada, Europe, and other locations that cover even basic contact information. No matter the type of space or organization, we recommend having someone familiar with leases and contracts—preferably legal counsel—check over the lease before you sign it. Other types of items to avoid can be ones that are dangerous (e.g. If you’re passionate about the idea and can communicate it well to others, you’ll almost certainly be able to inspire others to help you fill in the gaps. The Things Events. Do you need a business plan? If you’re in a low or mixed-income area and plan to ensure everyone can afford to use the Library of Things, see if there are programs that can help fund your space or receive other discounts. I also recommend getting more space than you think you’ll need, though not more than you think you can afford, if possible. Thanks for subscribing! Before there were great technology solutions like myTurn to manage tool libraries and Libraries of Things, there were about a dozen tool libraries, and they were difficult to get started. The exact amounts we’d recommend will vary based on the area and types of items in the Library of Things, though we do recommend some sort of sliding scale to ensure everyone in the community can afford to access the things they need. If the library you are intending of starting will be in your workplace, then you should first see if there are funds available to buy books or trade journals that would fit in the library. Whether you’re writing grants, starting a crowdfunding campaign, or talking with potential investors, you’ll also want to have a budget and basic financial projections. Ours has a little puppet theater and computer stations, so it really never gets old. Shareable: The Library of Things movement has grown from a whisper into a buzz. If your phone is on vibrate, it should not be resting on a hard surface. If you live in a food desert, or where there is food insecurity, gardening tools are a great option to help people grow their own food. Libraries are also popping up inside apartment buildings, in coffee shops and in cities. Sign up for Shareable’s weekly news about the latest people-powered solutions from around the world. For a public library, on average, 80% of the funding is local, with another 8-9% coming from various fees, gifts, etc. Ok, my area already has libraries, but they're horrible. You might be surprised how much is free or extremely low cost at your local public library. Similar to retail spaces, the best types of spaces for a Library of Things are those that are visible and easily accessible to the community. Sep 16, 2020 - We all know that libraries are awesome. So she decided to take the ultimate next step in the next few years – start a library! This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This card catalog contained information about the book, it’s title, author, and perhaps most importantly, the place you could find it. You can unsubscribe at any time. Most people love the idea of a Library of Things once they hear about it, so pitching online and traditional media is usually pretty easy. You can use the sites as a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information from any device. You typically don’t have the built-in customer base you get with a co-op (the co-op members) and accepting donations of items is not always an option. Simply enter your library number and password, and start your search. Contributing your own tags, reviews, etc. The first thing you will need to do if you want to start your own library is start gathering books. You wouldn’t have to buy, repair or store infrequently used items. Why buy when you can borrow? To help small nonprofit and community based Libraries of Things get going, myTurn often offers longer term “trials” and discounts to help ensure our costs do not prevent a Libraries of Things from helping build a more resilient local community. This gives the team experience with the platform from the start, so that when they open they are ready to hit the ground running. Bringing people together and helping ensure they have the skills to use the different types of things in the library is a great way to connect the community. Here are six tips to help you start your own Little Free Library: 1. We know of one or two libraries that had to close because their founders had to resign due to personal issues. If you have the resources to go this route though, rental businesses have been successful and profitable for many decades, and this is an extension of that model into other types of items and services. ALA has developed this document as a starting point to help you address current events and support all the members of your community, especially those in the most need. Co-locating in community centers, public libraries, or even in schools or universities can provide a way to tap into existing foot traffic as well. This is the idea behind a Library of Things. For example, if your organization accepts donated items, you’ll find that your community is likely full of items people would love to find a new home for. “When we placed the Little Free Library in front of our house, it was instant,” she says. The Internet has changed dramatically over the past two years. Creating a home library is a fun way to display your interests while establishing a special space for reading. You’ll be spending your time dealing with writing things down on paper, manually emailing people when things are due or overdue, and reporting will be a hassle at best—and impossible at worst. The Sacramento Public Library’s Library of Things is housed in the Arcade branch of the public library system. During difficult times, our nation’s 120,000+ public, academic, school, and special libraries are invaluable allies inspiring understanding and community healing. What kind of team do you need to get a Library of Things started? You don’t even need your own room or shelf space to lend out books—all you really need is a place to store them. Passersby won't quite believe you're giving away something for free and may think there's some sort of catch – so explain things clearly with a small sign above your library.