Let’s Build: Bainbridge Island Library of Things

Please sign up here if you would like to hear more: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8S0KmZg9CXUtp4Pg16A0zQKlq435qn212mXLB4amCjI6GCQ/viewform

If you are interested in getting involved or just curious about creating a Library of Things on Bainbridge Island, please join an open meeting:

December 16th from 7-8:30pm
Bainbridge Public Library Meeting Room
1270 Madison Ave N
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

A Library of Things (LoT) will provide an accessible location of shared goods for the community to borrow. I am working to create a non-profit organization for this effort and welcome all the help I can get to make this a reality.

A preliminary survey posted on Bainbridge Islander’s Facebook group of 70 Islanders indicated that over 92% of those surveyed believe a LoT would be a valuable resource. The survey showed that home and garden tools, recreational equipment, entertainment items, kitchenware and toys were the top five categories of items that residents would want to borrow.

In this meeting, we will aim to discuss and act on the following:

Learning from Others: share research findings on existing lending libraries and the shared economy

Initial Reaction: share results of the Bainbridge Islander Facebook group’s survey

Fill-in the Gaps: determine what the LoT can do for our community

Divide and Conquer: explore key tasks that need to be tackled to create a LoT, such as:

-non-profit legalese
-branding
-fundraising/grant writing
-budget/accounting
-location
-technology
-collection of inventory
-communications/community engagement
-operations

As a community resource, it needs to be community grown. So come one, come all, let’s grow the sharing economy on Bainbridge and build a Library of Things.

Note: This project is not connected with the public library but will be created as an independent non-profit entity.