Islington shop launches to hire out household appliances

The Library of Things is to rent out items like drills, carpet cleaners, sound systems and sewing machines has opened in Islington.

It’s hopes the store in the Bright Sparks Reuse and Repair second hand furniture store in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, will help people save money and reduce waste.

The Islington council has joined forces with Library of Things and the shop to open the environmentally-friendly store, which encourages sustainable re-use by allowing residents and small businesses to rent out items on a daily basis for a few pounds.

Library of Things is a social enterprise on a mission to make borrowing better than buying, and works with suppliers like Bosch, Kärcher and STIHL to provide products on hire.

The Bright Sparks Reuse and Repair shop, run by social enterprise DigiBridge, brings small electric items back to life, repairing then selling them, along with furniture and bric-a-brac.

The store, which is grant funded through Islington’s Carbon Offset Fund, opened yesterday (November 2).

Islington’s eco chief, Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington said: “We’re determined to create a cleaner, greener, healthier Islington that can tackle the climate emergency, and supporting residents and businesses to make better use of resources and reduce waste is key to achieving this.