Library that lends just about anything needs cash

A "library of stuff" is crowdfunding to ensure it can keep serving thousands of members.

The Hull-based library offers everything from tools to toys. But it needs to raise £7,000 to pay for its premises and other costs.

The shelves are stacked with hundreds of items and people can borrow them for about a 10th of what it would cost to buy them.

Alan Dalgairns, the founder of the library, said: "We're trying to give people access to tools that they generally wouldn't be able to afford."

He came up with the idea after buying a film scanner on an online auction site. After using it once, he listed it for sale again, but thought there should be an easier way to borrow items.

His collection now ranges from DIY tools and tents, to wedding decorations and thermal imaging cameras.

"If you're buying something like a paint stripper. It would cost £200 to buy, but you can borrow it for just a few pounds," Mr Dalgairns said.

Four-thousand people have joined the library since it opened four years ago. It has 1,000 active members and about 100 items are borrowed every week.

But if the not-for-profit library is going to stay open for another year, it needs £7,000 to cover the costs of the building, energy and insurance.

"We don't want to put that cost on to the items because it would exclude certain parts of our community from borrowing," Mr Dalgairns said.

He has already raised £2,000 and hopes to get the rest soon, to allow the Library of Stuff to continue helping people save money and space.

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