A library where you can borrow almost anything … except books.
A library of things is an interesting concept. Basically, it’s a place where things you might need (a hammer? A picnic basket? A telescope?) are available for you to borrow and use for one week.
The brainchild of the Goethe-Institut, Prague’s Library of Things offers an “innovative, practical, cost effective and environmentally friendly way” of using things. Rather than spending money on something that will linger in your closet for years to come after a single use (or, worse yet, end up in a landfill), borrow what you need for a temporary experience and then return it.
There’s a little bit of everything in the library – and there are often groups of things that go together really well. You can borrow a baby carrier to go hiking, a car seat for a child or a child seat to hook up to the back of your bicycle. Or you can take home a camcorder, a pair of virtual reality glasses and even a home planetarium. Tools, outdoor items (party tent, anyone?) and even random items such as an ice cream maker and a sewing machine are also available to borrow. With the proper planning, you can even borrow the Goethe-Institut! Foyer, a room perfect for cultural events and meetings.
There’s a fee to join the Library (200 CZK or around 7.5 Euros per year) and you can only borrow up to three articles at a time. If an item is currently out, you can set a reservation for it for a later date.
