We want to make borrowing fair, friendly and fun – without hidden catches and sneaky small print. That’s why it’s important that all our borrowers agree to these 5 simple rules of borrowing:

• Bring the item back clean and tidy.
• Bring the item back on time so the next borrower isn’t kept waiting, and to avoid late fees!
• Make sure you know how to use the item properly by following the instructions (often displayed on the item’s listing in the online inventory, or by asking one of our volunteers for help in the shop).
• Tell us about any damages immediately here so we can fix or replace in time for the next borrower.
• Share your feedback, stories & ideas here so we can keep improving Library of Things for future borrowers – We love it when people post reviews online.

You can make a reservation online by signing in, browsing the catalogue, and clicking ‘Reserve’ on the item that you want. You will then be prompted to select a date on a calendar. If you want to add more items to this reservation, simply keep pressing ‘Reserve’ on the items you want and they will be put in your Reservation Cart. To complete the process click ‘Complete Reservation’. We have put together a step-by-step guide to reserving online here. You can also phone during opening hours or email us if you are having any issues reserving online and need us to complete it manually.

You will need to select the consumables as extra along with your item. See the item descriptions to see what is required.

The prices displayed for consumables are a one-off fixed price, not a per-day price.

There is no maximum borrowing time. The likely loan length is factored in to the per-day price. Items such as reusable nappies, for example, are more likely to be borrowed for longer periods of time and so their per-day price is lower to account for that.

The prices displayed are the per-day price. To borrow for two days you pay 150% the per-day price (the per-day price plus half again) and for 3-7 days you pay 200% the per-day price (double the one-day price). Anything borrowed for more than a week will be worked out at the cheapest combination. For example, an item priced at £1 per-day, when borrowed for 9 days would cost £3.50 (£2 for the initial week plus £1.50 for another 2 days).

There is no set limit to how many items you may borrow at one time.

Log in to your account online, and click on your username in the top right corner. Click on ‘Reservations’. You can then find the reservation and click ‘Cancel’. If you are unsure, drop us an email or give us a call during our opening hours.

Need to extend your loan? First, check nobody else has reserved it after you. If your item is available, you can select the days you need it for. If your item is booked, you’ll have to return it at the time you planned. If not, we will charge a daily late fee. We do this to encourage the items to be ready for other borrowers, who can see via the inventory when an item is due in.

Our objective is to make borrowing fair, friendly and fun. We know damages happen, and that 99% of the time these aren’t intentional. We simply ask that borrowers are honest and let us know about any damages.

As mentioned above, it is not always the borrowers fault and mistakes happen, but we ask that you are honest about what has happened so we can start looking for a replacement or fix. For higher value items that require a deposit, we reserve the right to keep this in order to replace the item.

The first time you borrow you will need to bring proof of who you are and of your address, e.g. a driving licence or passport. If you have neither of these and no other photographic proof of address we can accept two non-photographic forms of ID e.g. utility bills.

If you have signed up for Low Income membership we will need to see proof of benefits received (Jobseekers Allowance, PIP, Universal Credit or Income Support from within the last 3 months).

If you have signed up for Student membership we will need to see Student ID and an active NUS card.

Prices displayed are the per-day price for a Standard member.

To borrow for two days you pay 150% the per-day price (the per-day price plus half again).

To borrow for 3-7 days you pay 200% the per-day price (double the one-day price).

For members who have discounts (Subscribers, Low Income, Students and anyone in their first 6 weeks of membership) your discounted rate will be taken off the displayed prices.

For anything borrowed for longer than a week, the price will be worked out at the cheapest combination. For example, an item priced at £1 per-day, when borrowed for 9 days would cost £3.50 (£2 for the initial week plus £1.50 for another 2 days).

Items such as reusable nappies are more likely to be borrowed for longer periods of time and so their per-day price is lower to account for that.

Our pricing formula is made up of multiple variables. Among others these include the quality and condition of the item. If you see two similar drills priced differently, for example, then this will be because one is of better quality or in better condition than the other.