Welcome to Ilkley Thingery.


Our Usual Opening Hours:

  • Wednesday:   3 - 6 pm
  • Friday:             3 - 6 pm
  • Saturday:        10am - 4 pm


* For Exceptions to Usual Opening Hours, see Dates Closed.


Contact Us.

  • Email:  library-of-things@climateactionilkley.org.uk

  • Phone (during Opening Hours):   01943 513 818


Become a Member & Borrow Things or Get Us to Repair Your Things.

Ilkley Thingery is a community resource-sharing hub - Ilkley's very own Library of Things (this linked article in the ethical consumer provides a useful summary of what a Library of Things is, and where to find them across the UK). Ilkley Thingery is a lending library that you can borrow a wide range range of things from, and offers a convenient and affordable way for people to access a wide range of items without needing to buy them. Things in the library are catalogued here on this website, so you can look at what things are available to borrow and reserve things that you'd like to borrow here online after becoming a member of this library (become-a-member-of-ilkley-thingery). Most of the Things stocked in this library of things are used rather than brand new, but all are in excellent or very good condition. Some of the Things in the library are new. Things in the library are loaned or donated to the Thingery, or bought by the Thingery from membership and borrowing fees.


We now offer low cost electrical and textile repairs for Thingery members, to make repairing things rather than buying new an accessible option for more people. See Repair@IlkleyThingery for more information.


Borrowing and sharing things through Ilkley Thingery helps the environment by cutting down waste, and provide a way of building and strengthening community. Members of Ilkley Thingery can save money by borrowing rather than buying, reduce their environmental impact and save space in their homes by hiring things through Ilkley Thingery.

If you need tools for a DIY project, a tent for a camping trip, a lawn mower, hedgetrimmer, food processor, or a floor cleaner to spruce up your home before a party, Ilkley Thingery has Things you can borrow. Ilkley Thingery has an large collection of things to borrow and a welcoming community of members; our library offers a great way of getting the tools you need for household tasks, and exploring your passions and hobbies.

To Become a Member: 1. Register with us, and 2. Pick a Membership Type by following the link in the email you receive after registering. 

Please become an Ilkley Thingery member Today.


Brief Background.

The Thingery is, and has been from the beginning, developed, managed and run by Erika Shilling, the Project Manager. Most of the time she has given to getting this project off the ground and running Ilkley Thingery has been unpaid. Ilkley Thingery started with a grant from a local B corp company, Beyondly; this provides funding for the cost of the building for the first 3 years, and some contribution towards energy costs, giving time to make this project work financially. The project, which is not-for-profit, relies mostly on membership fees, borrowing, income from member electrical and textile repairs, and small grants for other projects, such as the Peer Support, Repair & Talk group that meets on Wednesday evenings at the Thingery, to make enough money to continue to run, so please become a member and start or continue borrowing from the Thingery, bring your things in for repair, and come along to the Peer Support group. Project costs are mainly the rent and running of 10 Church Street, the library home. 


Coming Soon.

We will soon be offering a range of workshops, and meeting space for local groups. Watch this space for news.



Page last updated: 07/12/2024.


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