Borrow a sewing machine? Sacramento Public Library to start loaning more than books

Sacramento Public Library patrons will soon be able to check out a variety of tools, technology and home appliances through a “Library of Things” program.

Have you ever had the urge to play around with a music synthesizer or take a GoPro camera on an adventure, but didn’t want to own one?

It may soon be possible, once the Sacramento Public Library launches its new “Library of Things” program later this month. Library patrons will be able to check out a variety of tools, technology and home appliances the same way they currently borrow books.

Read full article here.

That's a great idea! I will have to see if our local library would be interested in doing something like this.

The Hillsboro Main Library in the Portland area does this too.
John S
PDX OR

Brilliant.

I first heard about this idea listening to Jacque Fresco the designer behind The Venus Project which is a really great idea for systems to make earth sustainable. Super interesting dude

Why should this be organised by government ? Here in Belgium, we have some initiatives that are just organised between people or by clubs or by businesses. Our local government here supported a scheme for groups of neighbours to buy garden tools one only uses occassionaly, such as shredders, etc....
It also works with cars or bicycles or.....

A local group of permies or homesteaders could make this happen.

http://www.bewustverbruiken.be/artikel/spullen-delen-met-buren-was-nooit-zo-makkelijk

Just use autotranslate to get a general idea

Because it'd probably be illegal here.

It's hard for even government-run libraries to do anything good... like this seed library from last year.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/04/agri-terrorism-towns-seed-library-shut-down

Can't imagine what would happen if an actual person started a lending club or something.

It's an awesome idea though. Hope it works out and more libraries start such a program. Here most people just buy and resell everything instead of loaning. Very inefficient.

Also, it's a public good. Everyone benefits, and you don't really use up the tool by borrowing it, so it makes sense philosophically.

I think if people want to do that without government, more power to them.

Many people borrow tools and don't bring them back from their neighbors. Hopefully, they would remember or be asked to remember more easily by a library.
John S
PDX OR

Guerric Kendall wrote:Because it'd probably be illegal here.

It's hard for even government-run libraries to do anything good... like this seed library from last year.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/04/agri-terrorism-towns-seed-library-shut-down

Can't imagine what would happen if an actual person started a lending club or something.

It's an awesome idea though. Hope it works out and more libraries start such a program. Here most people just buy and resell everything instead of loaning. Very inefficient.

On the one hand i'm not amazed that the government wants to protect food security (it should) but it is utterly ridiculous to target seed libraries when one can buy seeds from everywhere over the internet with minimum checks. On the other hand local seed diversity is the best defense against agri-terrorism - so who is kidding who ?


Food security is of course also unther threat from erosion, pesticide overuse, monocultures, new and old pests, climate change......


This does not take away the usefullness of the overall concept of lending each other stuff or of co-owning it. Unless it becomes unpatriotic not to buy chinese made stuff from Wallmart ?

While we were on the subject, a newsletter came in with this link http://phys.org/news/2015-12-dawn-wild-west-economy-global.html#nRlv

Another link came my way.

http://www.pumpipumpe.ch/order-stickers/

I live in sac I will have to check that out.

Wow! That is a great idea! It does make me wonder about the viability of a community-supported borrowing club. Even a (reasonably priced) rental program. An interesting venture for those with access to commercial property...

Mindy