Amid Rising Costs and Overconsumption, Libraries of Things Provide Community Solutions
By Casper Khan-Bridgers, Impact Associate
Imagine a Friday walking through the Lau and on a shelf beyond Aristotle and Austen, an air mattress sits neatly folded, air pump ready to stomp on, for you to check out, take to your dorm for a weekend visitor, and return Monday on your way to Uncommon Grounds. Welcome to a Library of Things (LoT).
Public libraries are about access, rather than ownership. And, as The American Library Association notes, they have a history of sharing more than just books. In 1904, patrons could check out a framed painting at the Newark Public Library. The first formal tool-lending library opened in 1974 in Berkeley, California (The Library of Things). In the past ten years, 2,000 modern Libraries of Things (LoTs) have quietly opened in small towns and large cities (Shareable 2024).
Some operate as non-profits and charge a minimal yearly membership fee. Others are part of local libraries that only charge late, lost, or damaged fees. You can borrow bread makers, skateboards, metal detectors, guitars, or birthday party decorations (The Library of Things). D.C.'s Public Tool Library even offers string lights and folding tables for throwing a backyard party. The concept behind these LoTs is to share, rather than own, items rarely or temporarily needed, reducing waste and connecting communities.
Instead of adding to the stream of cheaply produced goods entering the market, LoTs extend the life of items already in circulation. One ladder serves dozens of households instead of dozens of ladders rusting in garages. A recent New York Times feature on Maine’s Curtis Memorial Library of Things, highlights additional services such as art supply swaps and repair sessions. Librarian and founder Hazel Onrud, stated, “we’re meeting community needs in a globally responsible way” (The New York Times).
Many primary and secondhand retailers have been focusing on the value and environmentally conscious Gen Z and Millenials. However, 2025 market data shows that these younger consumers are focusing on affordability and long-term financial security. Interest in “finance and investments” inched past interest in “protecting the planet” in recent surveys by GWI (Newsweek). At the same time, consumers of all ages are frustrated by overconsumption, turning to “no buy” challenges and decluttering how-tos. Half of U.S. consumers polled in 2025 had switched to more affordable products, and while admitting new trends are hard to ignore, many are focusing on buying fewer things and from green brands (Statista). LoTs have given a place for conscientious consumers to turn, contributing to a circular economy in a practical and wallet-friendly way.
Concerns about affordability, financial stability, and sustainability for all require innovative market spaces. Libraries of Things won’t end mass consumerism. They are small-scale, dependent on community participation and careful maintenance. But they are local, accessible options for a sharing infrastructure. The presence of LoTs in a community can help individuals rethink their consumption habits. Supporting and encouraging LoTs in neighborhoods, on college campuses, and in cities, can create alternatives to traditional consumption while addressing environmental concerns.
