Project objective

The Library of Things aims to foster the circular economy and reduce excessive consumption and accumulation of objects that aren’t regularly used.

This initiative expands Bayside’s library services beyond providing access to traditional items, such as books, to providing other useful objects such as tools or appliances to either try before you buy or use for a short time to complete a specific task.

We identified the need to establish a Library of Things to support the circular economy in the following strategic documents:

Bayside Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020-2050

Bayside Arts, Culture and Libraries Strategy 2023-2027

Bayside already has a proven record for providing access to different types of items for the community to borrow including drones, digitisation and robotics equipment. The Library of Things would build on the success of these programs.

As well as providing alternatives to purchasing single or limited use items, creating a Library of Things is also an opportunity for our library services to continue their role as a community location for learning by providing information sessions and programs on these tools.

Project impacts

Bayside has large population of residents in medium (29.5%) or high-density (9.3%) dwellings who may not have storage space for a wide range of items.

Through this program, Bayside Library Service will have a selection of items available for the community to borrow from Beaumaris Library. This saves community members money, space in their homes, and reduces the purchase of single or rarely used items.

This program also provides an opportunity for the library to provide access to newer technologies, such as battery-powered lawnmowers, for customers to try before deciding if it is something they would like to purchase.

Beaumaris Library has been selected as the home for this project as it has the greatest available space to display and/or store these types of items.

Approximately $30,000 has been budgeted for this project.

Proposed list of Library of Things equipment:

  • Drill
  • Bike repair kit
  • Canning / preserving kit
  • Thermomix
  • Paper shredder
  • Cake tins
  • Pasta maker
  • Blood pressure monitor
  • Food processor
  • Bread maker
  • Leaf vacuum
  • Battery lawnmower
  • Induction cooktop

What information do we need from the community?

What can the community influence?

  • Selection of tools, appliances etc that library members can borrow.
  • Whether the program continues and/or expands. This will be based on usage data and customer feedback.

What can’t the community influence?

  • Establishing and trialing a Library of Things. This is an action of the adopted Arts, Culture and Libraries Strategy 2023-2027
  • The location of Library of Things (Beaumaris Library)

Stakeholders and community

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

  • Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter
  • Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
  • Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

Stakeholder / community

Impact

Interest

Influence

Beaumaris library members

M

H

Consult

Bayside library members

L

M

Consult

Bayside community members

L

L

Consult

Lower socio-economic households

H

H

Consult

Residents interested in the circular economy

H

H

Consult


Selected tools and techniques

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

  • Have Your Say project webpage
  • Email notification to Library members, Have Your Say subscribers and key stakeholder groups
  • Council website and This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
  • Targeted social media posts
  • Article for inclusion in various special interest Council newsletters, including Friendly Librarian, Healthy Ageing
  • Digital screens at local Bayside libraries and Corporate Centre

Key methods for gathering feedback

  • Digital engagement via Have Your Say, including ‘fund-it’ tool to select items of interest to borrow and an ideas board for other suggestions.
  • Conversations with library staff
  • Correspondence via email or phone.

Project timelines

  • Community engagement – 9 October – 17 December 2023
  • Selection and procurement of ‘things’ – January 2024
  • Library of Things open for borrowing – From March 2024

Decision-making process

Bayside Libraries will purchase items for the Library of Things based on community interest in equipment, as well as available budget, risk assessments and maintenance requirements.