Frequently Asked Questions.

 WHAT IS A LIBRARY OF THINGS?

Like a library of books, a Library of Things lends various physical items to its members. Our Library of Things is called ‘Ilkley Thingery’.

HOW ARE BORROWING FEES AND MEMBERSHIP FEES USED?

All money taken for borrowing from membership fees is reinvested in the Thingery, initially to pay for rent, bills, and maintenance of Things in the library. Any excess money received will be used to develop the project or buy more Things for the library. 

WHY USE ILKLEY THINGERY?

• Save the Environment.     

Borrowing instead of buying can make a big difference to your carbon footprint.

• Save Money.     

The cost of buying Things in our library can be as much as £200-£300 or c. £2,000 (for the mobility scooter, for example), such as our carpet cleaner or some of the power tools. By borrowing them for less than £20 a week, you could save around £250, especially if you only it borrow once or twice a year. We maintain and repair everything in the library, removing the cost of ordinary maintenance and repair from you. Our concessionary membership provides a 75% discount on borrowing for those who qualify for that membership.

• Save Space.     

Have you ever felt frustrated by the fact that something you use once in a blue moon, takes up so much space in your house or garage? Or do you struggle to fit your lawnmower back in the shed every time you use it? Borrowing instead of buying these kinds of Things is a great way to save space in your home.

• Connect to your Community.

Many of our items are kindly donated by the Ilkley community, and we now have a small number of volunteers who help in the library. Being a member of Ilkley Thingery, whether you are a regular borrower, volunteer or supporter of our ethos, helps to grow and strengthen the community of Ilkley.

LIBRARY CATALOGUE.

WHAT THINGS DO WE STOCK?

We have a wide range of Things in our library, some of which are useful or practical, and other that are fun or entertaining. The following ten categories of Things are the ones that were used when the Thingery first opened (there are now a growing number of categories of Things in our library). The Thingery will stock Things that people want to borrow. As the library develops, more things are added to our stock. If you want us to stock something that isn't currently in the library,  contact Erika (erika.shilling@ilkleythingery.org) with details of  the Thing(s) you'd like to borrow from the library.

• Arts and Crafts (e.g., sewing machines, craft blocks).
• Baby and Children (e.g., pushchairs, playpens).
• DIY (e.g., drills, planes, saws, ladders).
• Events (e.g., projector screens, megaphone, bunting).
• Gardening tools (e.g., lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, strimmers, spades).
• Household and Garden (vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, carpet cleaners, chairs).
• Kitchen Equipment (e.g., blenders, food mixers, dehydrators).
• Leisure and Camping (e.g., tents, chairs, mats, sleeping bags).
• Music, Media and Audio/Visual (e.g., guitars, speakers).
• Sports and Games (e.g., golf clubs, roller blades).
  

*View our full list of Things here: https://www.ilkleythingery.org

HOW IS LIBRARY STOCK CHOSEN?

There are criteria for deciding what things are stocked, which are created and developed by the project manager, Erika. These include the following: 

YES

• Things that are clean, undamaged and in good working order.
• Good quality Things.
• Things that people want to borrow.
• Useful items that need replacing regularly.
• Spares for our DIY Things to keep them ready for use, such as blades and drill bits.
  

NO

• Broken Things that cannot be repaired.
• Things that require a large amount of time input for maintenance.
• Things that take up too much space in the library without bringing in income from borrowing or sale.
• Gas and petrol Things.
• Things that people don’t want to borrow.
  

If you have something to donate, please email me (Erika) at erika.shilling@ilkleythingery.org or library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk to see whether or not we can accept the donation. Please DO NOT bring things to the Thingery without emailing first to check whether your Things are wanted - we can't take all your unwanted things, and we are not a disposal service.

For Things that we are specifically looking for to add to the library, see our Wish List, which contains Things that have been requested by members, and Things that we need to keep the Things in our library ready to use.

WHERE DO WE GET THINGS FROM?

Many of the Things in the library come from cupboards and garages within our local community - in using the Thingery, you are using Things that might otherwise be lying around not being used, or possibly even thrown away.

Some of the Things in Ilkley Thingery are borrowed from people in our community (you can store some of your Things in the Thingery, and allow other people to borrow them through the Thingery (if we have room, contact me for details: erika.shilling@ilkleythingery.org) - the funds from these borrowed Things help to pay rent, bills and maintenance costs).

In working like this we can make the most of Things already in circulation, rather than buy and waste more Things. Doing this helps to reduce individual consumption, helps the planet and helps to develop and strengthen our community. 

Occasionally I use some of the funds raised from your membership and borrowing, local sponsorship, donations and sales to buy new or second-hand Things that will be useful to the community.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THINGS I HAVE THAT I NO LONGER WANT?

• If you think Ilkley Thingery would benefit from them, contact me (Erika) with details to find out whether or not I will accept them (erika.shilling@ilkleythingery.org, or library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk).
• You Can Repair broken Things. See Repair@ilkleythingery or look for a local tradesperson to fix your things for you.
• Post in a local Facebook group to ask for a repair expert.
• Sell or give away online on sites like Freecycle, Freegle or local online groups.
• Give to a charity shop, if they will take them.
• Recycle – Look up your closest recycling centre. Check out what materials they accept, and any other restrictions before you make the trip.
  

CAN I REQUEST AN ITEM THAT YOU DON’T HAVE IN STOCK?

Yes! If we think the item will be popular and borrowed often, we’ll either add to our wish list to see if anyone has one they can donate, or we will buy a new or second hand one to add to the library (email Erika at library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk).

HOW DO WE PRICE OUR THINGS?

Various factors are considered when setting borrowing fees, including new purchase price, quality, condition, etc. Prices are capped to ensure we’re well within market value. Supporter members (Plus & Premium) receive 25% discount on borrowing fees. Low Income members and students receive a 75% discount on borrowing fees, helping us to be accessible to all.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS BREAK OR REACH THE END OF THEIR LIFE?

We ask borrowers to flag any damage they notice as soon as possible. This kicks off the repair process and also ensures the next borrower is not let down. We repair what we can, and recycle as much as we can. We understand that Things will break eventually and we don’t charge members for ordinary wear and tear. However, we do reserve the right to charge members for repair or replacement if Things are deemed to have been broken by misuse or neglect.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I BREAK SOMETHING?

We know Things can stop working through wear and tear, and that many times this isn’t due to intentional carelessness, neglect or mistreatment. If you borrow something that isn’t working well, be honest and let us know. We won't charge you for wear and tear, but we reserve the right to charge you for carelessness, neglect or wilful damage. You are responsible for taking care of the Things you borrow from us – read the Borrowers Agreement; You agree to it every time you borrow something from us.

ARE YOUR THINGS GUARANTEED TO WORK?

All electrical Things are PAT-tested when they enter the library, and every time they are returned after being borrowed (please don’t tightly coil up the flexes – it’s not helpful, they need to be unwound for the PAT test). In addition, as far as possible, we test Things to see if they work before they ‘go live’ on the catalogue. We ask previous borrowers if Things are still in good working order when they return them. We loan all our Things in good faith believing that they work as intended. That said, things do sometimes fail, we sometimes may not spot an imperfection, and so on. In this case we might offer to refund the credit to your account or offer a replacement. If you borrow something that isn't working as it should, please let us know the details immediately so that we can deal with the problem as best we can.

DO NOT EVER attempt to fix our Things – you are NOT permitted to do so. You will be charged for any damage you cause by attempting to fix our Things, or for the full cost of replacing anything you damage.

MEMBERSHIP.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Becoming a Member:

1.  Register with us.

2.  Then Select a Membership Type - follow the link in the email you receive after Registering with us.

3.  Once you are a member, you can borrow Things from us by logging in to your account.

* You MUST be a member of the Thingery before you can borrow,  for insurance cover.

I’M ON YOUR MAILING LIST - DOES THAT MEAN I AM A MEMBER OF THE THINGERY?

No. You must complete the two-stage registration process to become a member.

TO BORROW FROM ILKLEY THINGERY, YOU NEED TO:

1. Be 18 or over.
   
2. Have an email, so we can send you receipts and important information about Things you borrow.
   
3. Agree to the Borrower's Agreement and Liability Waiver included in the sign-up process.
   
4. Show us a valid form of photo ID when you first use the library.
   
5. Show proof of benefits for concessionary membership.

BORROWING.

DO I NEED TO LIVE IN ILKLEY TO BORROW THINGS?

No – you can come from as far as you like.

If you’re travelling to or through Ilkley for other things, it can make sense to borrow from us, even if you don’t live locally; sometimes its better than buying new.

5 SIMPLE RULES OF BORROWING.

We want to make borrowing fair, friendly and fun.  All our borrowers must agree to these 5 simple rules of borrowing:

• Bring our Things back clean and tidy.
• Bring Things back on time so the next borrower isn’t kept waiting, and to avoid late fees!
• Make sure you know how to use Things properly, by following appropriate instructions (often displayed on the item’s listing in the online inventory, or search for them online).
• Tell us about any damage immediately so that we can fix or replace Things in time for the next borrower.
• Share your feedback and stories so we can keep improving Ilkley Thingery for future borrowers.

HOW DO I RESERVE THINGS?

Become a member of Ilkley Thingery. You can then make a reservation online by signing in to your account on our website, finding the Thing you want to borrow, and clicking ‘Reserve’ on the item you want. Then select a date for pick up and return the an on-screen calendar. If you want to add more items to this reservation, simply add more Things to your basket. When you've selected everything you want, click ‘Reserve’. 

You can also phone during opening hours (01943 513818) or email us (libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk) if you are having any issues reserving online and need us to reserve it for you.

Note: You MUST sign in to your account to reserve Things through your account. If you don’t log in, the system doesn’t know who you are.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE COLLECT AN ITEM I HAVE RESERVED?

Yes. However, payment is taken when Things are collected - the person collecting will need to pay for the item unless you have attached a card to your account that can be used. You can add credit to your account, to be used for payment on collection. If you haven't added credit to your account, the person collecting will need to pay for the item.  

ARE CONSUMABLES LIKE CARPET CLEANING SOLUTION AND SANDPAPER INCLUDED?

Not at present, but they might be provided as an option in future.

HOW LONG CAN I RESERVE ITEMS FOR?

There is no maximum borrowing time. 

HOW DO I CANCEL A RESERVATION?

Log in to your account on our website, and click on your username in the top right corner. Click on ‘Loans’. You can then find the reservation you want to cancel, click on it to open that, and find the cancel button onscreen - click ‘Cancel’. If you need help, drop us an email or give us a call during our opening hours.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T RETURN THE ITEM WITHIN OPENING HOURS?

If you need to extend your loan, first, check nobody else has reserved the Thing by logging in to your account and attempting to extend your loan. If your Thing is available, you can select the additional days you need it for and extend your loan. If your Thing has been booked by another member, you’ll have to return it at the time it is due back, or email us if that's not possible to let us know what's happened.

If the Thing is not returned or extended, we will charge a daily late fee. We do this to encourage the items to be ready for other borrowers, and to encourage you to return Things on time to the library.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE AN ITEM OR IT IS STOLEN FROM ME?

Be honest about what has happened so we can start looking for a replacement or fix. For higher value items that require a deposit, or for Things that belong to other members (many of our Things have been loaned to us), we might charge you for the full cost of a replacement.

DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING WITH ME WHEN I BORROW ITEMS?

The first time you borrow you will need to bring photo proof of who you are and of your address (e.g., a driving licence or passport and utility bill). If you have no photo ID., we might accept two non-photographic forms of ID (e.g., a utility bill and a bank statement).

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

HOW DOES THE PRICING WORK?

Prices displayed on the website are the per-day price for a Standard member unless you're logged in to your account - if you're logged in, you'll see the price per day for your membership.

The platform that hosts our website can only show one price per Thing (i.e., either daily, or weekly, or every two days, etc.). Prices are shown for a one-day borrow. Prices for other time periods are being added to the item description (this is a work in progress – it will take a while to work through the catalogue. There are LOTS of jobs to do to get the library running and up to date. If you want to volunteer your time to help, get in touch. If you don’t want to help, be patient whilst the website is developed - there are many hours of work required to develop this project and complete many jobs you can't/ don't see). If you want Things for a longer period the price is often adjusted so that it's attractive to borrow from us rather than buying Things.

WHY ARE SOME SIMILAR ITEMS PRICED DIFFERENTLY?

Prices depend on several factors; among these are the quality and condition of Things. If you see two similar drills priced differently, for example, this might be because one is of better quality or in better condition than the other.

MONEY.

HOW DO I PAY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND BORROWING?

You pay for membership and borrowing online via card. Our payment processing provider is Stripe. Stripe is a PCI Service Provider Level 1, which is the highest grade of payment processing security. You can also pay with cash if you paid for membership and previous loans using a card. If you are having difficulty making a payment, please contact Erika at library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO BORROW THINGS? (WHY ISN’T IT FREE LIKE A BOOK LIBRARY?).

Public book libraries are free at the point of borrowing, but they are paid for in your Council Tax. The Thingery charges to cover its expenses.

LATE FEES.

Any Things not returned on time will be charged a £3 fee for each day after the date they were due to be returned. It is therefore very important that you contact us if you feel you won’t be able to get your item(s) back on time; Either call us during open hours on 01943 513818, or email Erika outside of open hours at libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

NON-COLLECTION FEE.

If for any reason you do not come and collect your item at your arranged time, you may still be charged for the loan. This is because by reserving the item you will have made it unavailable for other members to reserve during that time. If for any reason you think you will NOT be able to collect your items on time, please let us know in good time so that we can rearrange collection or make the item available for others. You can either call us during open hours on 01943 513 818 or email Erika outside of open hours at libraryofthings@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

CLEANING FEES.

We are unable to provide a cleaning service due to lack of facilities, lack of volunteers and lack of time, so we rely on each borrower to bring Things back in the condition they were in when you borrowed them (or cleaner). If an item is deemed to have been returned in an unsatisfactory state, you will be charged a cleaning fee.

A refundable cleaning deposit is taken when you borrow Things from us – if you return Things clean, that will be refunded to you. If you return Things in need of cleaning, that will be kept to cover cleaning (it takes time to clean the Things you don’t clean).

LOSS & DAMAGE FEES.

We ask borrowers to flag any damage they notice as soon as possible. This kicks off the repair process and ensures the next borrower is not let down. We understand that items will break eventually and we don’t charge members for these types of breakages. However, we do reserve the right to charge for Things that are deemed to have been broken by misuse, carelessness or neglect; in that case, members will be asked to either pay for the repair or pay the cost of replacing the Thing that’s been broken.

SUPPORT US.

WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT ILKLEY THINGERY?

As well as the most obvious thing of becoming a member and borrowing from us, there are a few other things you can do to support us:

• Volunteer with us.
• Donate money or Things.
• Follow us Facebook  and Instagram.
• Spread the word about us and encourage others to sign up! Share us on social media and tell people about your borrowing experience.
  
  

HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT YOUR AIMS OF REDUCING WASTE AND CONSUMPTION?

We are in favour of attempts to waste less, move towards “zero waste” and develop the sharing economy. Beyond using our Library you can support our mission in your own life by making efforts to consume fewer things and waste less. Here are some ideas:

•  Share more things with neighbours/ friends/family.
  
• Be more mindful about what you really need to buy.
  
• Buy second-hand if you can.
  
• Buy good-quality things from ethical suppliers that will last longer than cheap alternatives.
  
• Extend the life of your things by repairing them. If you don’t know how, come along to one of our repair workshops and learn, or ask us or other local repair people to do it for you.
  
• Don’t throw away your unwanted things if they could be reused or repurposed (try selling them, giving to us or to charity shops, or putting them on Freecycle).
• You might encourage your workplace or other organisations you’re involved with to adopt some of these ideas as well.
  

DONATIONS.

CAN I DONATE THINGS TO THE THINGERY?

Yes. Please contact Erika at library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk if you have items you wish to donate to find out whether we’ll accept them.

CAN YOU DONATE THINGS BUT KEEP THEM AT HOME, UNTIL PEOPLE WANT TO BORROW THEM?

Possibly. Please contact Erika at library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk to discuss details.

Page last updated: 31/08/2024.