What is a library of things?

A Library of Things is a place where you can borrow things you need but don't own. There are many reasons why it can be better for you to borrow items.

• It helps to reduce waste by having many people borrowing one item.
• It is low cost.
• You may not have the storage space to keep an item you have bought.

Where is Swansea Library of Things?

The library is located in The Quadrant Shopping Centre by the the St.Mary's Church/Whitewalls entrance (next to HMV).

We are a short walk from Swansea bus station. Buses also run to the train station if you need to travel home by rail. 

There are 6 Click and Collect parking bays behind the quadrant car park where you can stay 15mins while you collect items from the library.

Alternatively you can park in The Quadrant Car Park if you are staying longer, which has varied tariffs (after 9:30am it is £1 for an hour or £2 for the whole day)

When are you open?

The library is open every Monday-Sat 10am-4pm

How do I join?

Either create your online member account by selecting 'Register' at the top of this page or pop in to see us and we will help you create your membership account. You need to be aged 18 or over, have an email address, have a valid debit or credit card that you can link to your account when you sign up and agree to our terms and conditions.  The first time you borrow an item, you will need to bring in photo ID e.g. either a driving licence or passport and utility bill. You only need to do this once! If you would like more information about borrowing, please email us.

Do I have to pay join?

No! Joining the library is free of charge. You simply need to pay when borrowing individual items. 

How do I borrow an item?

1. Join as a Member. You just need a valid debit or credit card and an email address.
2. Reserve an Item. Choose the item you want to borrow. Select the best date and time for you. Pay for the duration you need the item.
3. Collect an Item. Collect the item from your selected borrowing location during opening hours.

Do I have to pay to borrow an item?

Yes, there is a small fee for borrowing which is detailed on all items within the categories on the left-hand side. Affordable lending is our top priority, so if you feel like you cannot afford to borrow an item, please let us know and we can work with you to see what works best.

Some popular items have a small deposit, which covers costs of cleaning and maintenance if the item does not return in good condition. We tolerate wear & tear from general use, so as long as you look after it well you have nothing to worry about!

What if I return it late?

If you wish to borrow an item longer than you've booked it for, please get in touch with us. You will be charged for each extra day you borrow it for, which is specific to each item, but there are no extra late fees.  

If you bring back an item late, and have not communicated to us that you wanted it for longer, you will be charged for any extra days plus a fee of 50p per day the item is overdue. If the item has been overdue for over a week and we haven't heard anything from you, we will begin taking necessary measures to claim the item and any outstanding fees owed to us.

What if I want to cancel my reservation?

It's no problem if you want to cancel, but please do so at least 24 hours before your item is due to be collected. Last minute cancellations are charged at £1.00 per item, which will be deducted from your account balance. This means it will be added onto the cost of the next item you loan from us.

As we have been getting a number of no-shows for bookings, we will begin charging people who do not show up to collect items that they have reserved. This is because when the items are reserved, it makes it unavailable to others who may have wanted to borrow it.

If you do not show up to collect an item within 48 hours of your booking and you have not been in touch with us, we will count this as a no-show. Your booking will be cancelled and you will be charged £1.50 for each item that was booked.