“Borrow instead of buy” is the motto of the “Library of Things,” which offers practical everyday items and household goods.

For years, this service has been another step toward the sustainable use of resources. Instead of buying items that are rarely used, people can borrow them from the library. And: “You can also try out items at your leisure before you buy them,” says library director Sylvia Fiedler. “This helps avoid impulse purchases and encourages people to perhaps explore new and different things.” The Salzgitter City Library is thus continuing to pursue an innovative approach to promoting resource-efficient behavior.

About 400 items from the fields of technology, household goods, crafts, games, and sports are available for checkout at the “Library of Things.” Hula hoops, a plotter, badminton or table tennis sets, a travel iron, a drill, a popcorn machine, a children’s tablet, and microscopes are just a few examples from the diverse selection offered by the “Library of Things.”

The collection can be browsed on-site or accessed in the library catalog by searching for “Library of Things,” and items can be checked out with a valid library card.