Library of Things

24/09/2026

Thought for the day 💬 Starting or finishing a project doesn't always have to mean buying expensive, new tools you might not use again, just look at all the cool stuff our members ticked off without a single Am*zon purchase 👏👏👏

We stock 40+ useful items for DIY, cleaning, hosting & more in lockers across 20+ London locations. Find your nearest here: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk

03/09/2026

📚 Share your views on your local library 👇

Talk London (from the Greater London Authority) wants to hear what you think about London's libraries, and we'd love for Library of Things to be part of that conversation.

If you've enjoyed having us as part of your library, do give us a little shout out. And if your library doesn't have a Library of Things yet, why not tell them you'd like one.

👉 Fill out the survey by Sunday 6th September

Find out what’s on offer from libraries in London and share what your local library means to you. | Background

17/08/2026

🌳🌡️ Trees can make a real difference to how hot our cities feel.

Last week, one of our thermal cameras helped London’s Deputy Mayor Mete Coban demonstrate exactly how trees help keep the city cool.

The footage featured as part of a wider announcement on a new tree-planting initiative from the Mayor of London.

👀 See the thermal camera in action below 👇

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db-NuA_KqAn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

03/07/2026

Introducing bat detectors at Hammersmith Library of Things 🦇

Start planning your bat walk adventure here: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/catalogue/borrow-bat-detector?

We've teamed up with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to trial these brilliant little gadgets to help connect more residents with the wildlife living right on their doorstep. It turns out bats are flying over H&F every single evening. And now you can hear them!

Better still, your evening walk can become real scientific data, helping to map and protect the bat population across the borough. Send your recordings to Bat Conservation Trust.

Regular LoT users will know we name our Things, so drop your best name suggestions in the comments 👇

Available to book now from our lockers inside Livat Hammersmith

Free with £2.50 LoT membership.

Do share with your pals so we can reach as many bat curious locals as possible🦇 🔍

11/05/2026

✨ WIN 2 tickets to The Old Ways: Yarn Stories, a special screening of short documentaries celebrating traditional textile crafts around the world, from Palestine's embroiderers to Japanese indigo dyers. 

🪡 Plus don't miss the pre-screening repair cafe with and the

We're also giving the lucky winner £10 credit to spend on .of.things tools to help with your repairs, crafts and projects (think: sewing machines, staple guns, DIY tool kits, drills and more).

To win:

❤️ Like this post
🎦 Tag a pal you'd love to take along
💌 Subscribe to our newsletter before midnight on 12/05/26 and select 'Barbican' or 'City of London' as your nearest location.

These tickets were kindly gifted by the Barbican Cinema and the event is part of  

The Ts and Cs

- Competition open to UK residents aged 18+
- Entry closes at 11:59pm on 12/05/26
- One winner will receive:
🍿 Two cinema tickets for The Old Ways: Yarn Tales
🎫£10 rental credit for Library of Things
- Winner will be selected at random from our City of London subscribers and contacted via Instagram or email
- If the winner does not respond within 24 hours another winner may be selected
- Prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash
- This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Instagram
- By entering you agree to be subscribed to the Library of Things 
- You must be free to attend the screening on 16 May at 4pm 

Good luck! 🤞

08/05/2026

Episode 1 of Business (Un)usual is out now. 🙌

The first episode explores the question at the heart of Library of Things: do you really need to own it?

Perhaps today more than ever (!) we need stories of people, organisations and communities doing things differently and being honest about what it takes to break out of the 'business as usual' mould,

so this is our story 💜

🎧 Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! Link in the usual place 👆

06/05/2026

Want to level up your DIY skills or master the sewing machine? Join us this Saturday at Barbican Library. It's FREE and all skill levels are welcome!

What's going on?

🛠️ Power tool demos, tips and tricks from
🪡 Learn sewing machine basics with of .
🌱 Bring seeds and plants to swap with your neighbours
🧰 Learn more about .of.things, the items available and get a 15% off code for your first booking

🎀 Plus a little ribbon cutting at midday to celebrate the opening of City of London Library of Things 🥳

See you there!

23/04/2026

Meet our first members! 👋

Just some of the lovely folk who decided they didn't need to go shopping for something they might only use for a one-off project. Instead they hit up the new Library of Things inside the Barbican Library 🙌

Our first City of London users have told us they've put shelves up, pressure washed patios and cut tiles, saving money, waste and storage space in the process!

But a special shout out has to go to Joseph in the first photo, who hired the drill, SDS drill, jigsaw AND hand sander to build a bookcase 💪

If you want to get more DIY-confident, would love to learn how to use a sewing machine or you're just trying to save money and buy less stuff then...

🎉 Come along to our launch event on Saturday 9th May, 11am-2pm

📍 Barbican Library, level 2 of the

You'll be able to try out the tools and get top tips from the pros. And in the spirit of circularity we'll also be hosting a plant and seed swap! 🌱

Let us know you're coming via the Eventbrite 👆

31/03/2026

London just got a new Library of Things - here's how to find it 🛠️🧰🪜🙌🎉

This video shows you how to get to the lockers, which are based inside Barbican Library, from the main entrance on Silk Street.

So next time you need a carpet cleaner, power tool, sewing machine, speaker (or something else) you know where to come!

✅ Renting saves you money, helps reduce wasteful single-use purchases and leads to a bunch of other positive actions like repair and upcycling.

👆Remember to book online first via our website.

Thanks to and and the CIL fund for helping us grow the rental movement here in London 💜

27/03/2026

Bookings are officially OPEN 🙌

We're delighted to say we're now open for reservations at our newest location City of London Library of Things.

Need something for a one-off job? From carpet cleaners to sewing machines (and lots more), you can book what you need in just a few clicks, use it and return it for your neighbours to use.

Perfect for any DIY, cleaning or creative home projects you might be planning over Easter.

👉 Scroll to see what's available
🔍 Book online at libraryofthings.co.uk
📍Collect from the lockers inside Barbican Library, Level 2 (collections open from Monday)

✅ It saves you money, saves you space at home, keeps useful things in circulation while keeping wasteful single use purchases at bay

💜 Know someone who lives or works in the City of London? Tag them below to help more people discover the service