The time is right for SLOTH
by Robin Layfield | Amplify
Last month I caught up with Nick Turner and Helen Elliott-Boult from Creative Sustainability at their shop space on John Street, Stroud to find out more about this new initiative for the district.
RL: “SLOTH — Stroud Library Of THings - what a fantastic idea. What inspired Creative Sustainability to set up this library?”
A Library of Things is a public space that provides tools and equipment for a small fee, that most people may only use once or twice a year.
It saves money, frees up storage space, reduces plastics waste (especially Waste Electical & Electronic Equipment) and ensures that the tools are regularly maintained and safe to use.
NT: “It's something I've wanted to do for about 10 years, since I first ever heard of them. When I worked for Transition Stroud, we talked a lot about setting one up and I know other groups have tried to do it in the past.
“I've read up a lot on this and one of the big challenges is the availability of a suitable space, covering the costs of that space and finding people that can help to run the space. When Creative Sustainability gained the use of this shop on John Street - which is used in the main for Access Bikes and as a collaboration space for young people — it seemed like an ideal spot that sits well with everything we are trying to do.
“It needs to be right in the centre of town. It needs to be somewhere you can set up outside and sadly it's not profitable enough in its own right to be able to cover its costs so it needs to share space with other initiatives.”
RL: “There's a very similar project in Newport. It's like a bike hub / library, it has a Repair Cafe on site and provides opportunities for skills training.”
NT: “So there are monthly Repair Cafe's in Stroud anyway. There's one that happens at the Prince Albert in Rodborough and another at the Trinity Rooms and there's one in Nailsworth. So this is an opportunity that already exists and we have spoken to the people involved.
RL: “So where do you get the tools from?”
NT: “I just want to be really clear: people often think of electrical, plumbing, DIY, gardening tools when you talk about a "Library of Things" but this is so much more than that: we will be providing things that families need: tents and outdoor equipment, camping chairs, birthday party packs, anything that might be unaffordable to families during a cost-of-living crisis.
“People have donated things directly to us so far. Lots of people have tools in their sheds, which they rarely use - perhaps they bought them for a one-off job and no longer need them. What they do need is to have the space back. So people are happy to donate tools that are in good condition.
“Some people have elderly relatives that have passed away and now they have to clear out their houses - they have all these tools to pass on that they don't want to see go to the tip or end up as clutter in storage.”
NT: “We put out a survey that had around 200 responses and from that we have developed a Community Wish List of 90 key things. We have managed to get many of them already. Some things we know we have to have multiples of: we need more drills because they are one of the most commonly requested tools and we could do with having more hedge trimmers.
RL: “How will you ensure that the equipment is fit to use?“
NT: “One of the Crowdfunder items we intend to buy is PAT Testing equipment. We are planning to offer training to people in using the equipment to check all the electricals in the SLOTH but this equipment can also be made available to other community groups who might need to test equipment. We will have that capacity.”
“Our job is to make sure that each thing is working and working safely. We'll have copies of manuals, we'll provide safety equipment that can be taken out with any tools that are borrowed: gloves and masks. You aren't just borrowing the tool, you are borrowing the whole package.”
“We are also holding stock of consumables, such as strimmer wire and wall plugs - this helps reduce waste as people can take what they need for a small job without having to buy a large and expensive package of consumables from a DIY store.”
“For example, say you are going to put some shelves up. You need six wall plugs. You'll be able to get everything you need from here. We'll have a box with a 1,000 wall plugs in it. We'll buy in bulk and we'll store them here as well. You just take what you need to get your job done, without having to go out and buy more stuff that will end up sitting in a cupboard forever.”
RL: “So this offering is so much more than lending or hiring out a tool. You have your equipment, you have your safety gear and you have your consumables”
NT: “That's three things. The fourth, if you want to become a part of the community we are building up around this is to do the Skill share stuff - or Time share. When we ran the survey, people were asking us about getting help with putting up a shelf, or perhaps even being able to ask someone do that for them.
“There is a huge opportunity for Timebanking - where skilled locals can come and perhaps run a workshop on how to drill holes and put up shelves, rewire plugs and other basic - but essential - tasks.
“Or to trade hours of their skilled labour in exchange for other help.
Timebanking: For every hour of help you give, you earn an hour’s credit from your time bank. You can spend your time credit by receiving an hour of someone else’s time. For example, you could learn how to cook an apple pie, or get help with painting your fence.
“This will be based on demand and based on what people have to offer.”
“If you do a tool share workshop, then you can earn credits to borrow equipment.
“If you give us a tool, you get credits to borrow equipment”
RL: “So tell me a little bit about the Crowdfunder? It has started already hasn't it?”
NT: “So the Crowdfunder is running on Stroud District Council's Stroudfunding platform and it's running until the end of Christmas. Stroud District Council have offered to match fund us to the target of £6,000 if we can get over half way there with the crowdfunder.”
Editor's note: At the time of writing there are 28 days left in the crowdfunder and it's just under a third funded
RL: “Let's talk about volunteering. I really love this idea, with the credits and the whole round trip: you donate tools, you get credits, you volunteer, you teach, you get credits and there are presumably other opportunities for skills building, skill sharing and personal growth from being involved with the project”
NT: “Okay — we need more volunteers! We've had a few public meetings, and a handful of people have come forward offering to help out but mostly the volunteers are people who are keen to help promote and market the project.”
RL: “So what skills are you looking for?”
NT: “We are looking for people who are hands on - who can do repair, tool repair and maintenance.
RL: “So theres a very specific need for someone who can help with the process, and also for volunteers in general?”
NT: “There will always be things that need people to come along and help out in the shop. People that can answer enquiries, who can explain what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve.
“We might need people who can go out and deliver equipment where library members do not have transport and we are looking for someone who can be a spokesperson for this initiative. We also have to make sure the equipment is maintained. It's there to be used and there will be wear and tear, we're not going to be judgmental about that.
“We will be running a couple of outreach events and we are going to be here for Goodwill Evening at the shop space on John Street. We'll have a stall outside to talk about what's going on here, so do come along and say hi.”
RL: “This is an inspirational project and I can see that it will take a little time to really bed in and catch on but the benefits - just the environmental / energy / space and waste reduction benefits are significant. Where do you hope it will go from here?”
NT: “Ideally, what would be really nice is if we outgrew this space, moved into somewhere like Peacocks and ran a Makerspace alongside it.
“We want to make sure that we are meeting the needs of people that can't afford to buy this equipment, not just those making an ethical choice. It needs to be bigger than that.
“We're going to give talks at community hubs, we'll talk about what specific things people might need to borrow in different parts of the district and hopefully we can establish smaller on-site SLOTHS with essential tools.
“Imagine if there was drill pack available for borrowing at every community hub.”
Nick Turner works for Creative Sustainability on digital inclusion and community support
Amplify Stroud is supported by Dialect rural writers collective. Dialect offers mentorship, encouragement and self-study courses as well as publishing.
You can find out more at https://www.dialect.org.uk/
Member discussion