A community lending library isn't just for books
Posted
Nov 18 2008, 06:45 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
If you need a tool for a particular job, frugalists say, borrow it rather than buy it. Blogger Heather at The Greenest Dollar takes that concept to another level.
She proposes that people cut unnecessary spending by organizing community lending libraries, and she shares two Web sites that can help neighbors set them up. The system works sort of like Craigslist, except you're expected to give things back.
Perhaps it's a sign of the times that more of these groups seem to be popping up. As an example, courtesy of EnviroMom, we found the North Portland Tool Library.
If you want to enlist the Internet to start a group, Heather says, you can create a "neighBORROW-hood" at a new Web site called neighBORROW. BillMonk also can help people keep track of who borrowed what.
Or you can do it the old-fashioned way, by meeting with people in your town or on your block. Heather says, "Anyone who wants to be a part of the library needs to list exactly what they want to make available for lending. Once you have everyone's inventory list, you'll need to create a type of 'lending phonebook.'" You also should set up rules, as in "you break it, you fix or replace it."
Things you can lend: toys, DVDs, tools, small kitchen appliances, skis and books are on her list, as well as offering your expertise. She says, "Sharing your knowledge with someone else and teaching them to do something new will give you more gratification than lending anything else you have to give."
