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More than one retired person in this thread, Frances! There is absolutely no 'naysaying' or bias on my part - just a reflection on the realities of life in the UK public library environment, which is often (very regretably and frustratingly, IMO) slow and far from flexible in accommodating change and innovation. It is impossible to predict what will come of any initiative, so they need to be evaluted, tried and re-evaluted in the UK environment. If they work, they will need to be maintained and refreshed. Will the start-up and longitudinal funding come from the tradiitonal loans budgets (shift the priorities) or will additional funding be required, and if so, where will that come from? Having championed and fought through the implementation of many systems to manage 'stuff' (often when told 'we don't need that', but unworkable without), had to nurse old systems to support 'stuff' because there was no funding for replacement, and had to bury some systems which were expensive in time and money to implement, but little used - the systems and the 'stuff' - one feels it appropriate to ask some hard questions. Equally, it would be relevant to question elements of the traditional 'stuff', 'why are you still doing that? Wouldn't the money and effort be better spent in other, innovative directions, such as these? Have you thought about that? Are you free to do so? Finally - is this being done to deliver that which current and potential users really need and want? (user centric), to deliver a public service vision of what libraries could be - 'Build It and They Will Come'? (service centric) or to get more people into the libraries to up the the people counts and loans of existing 'stuff' to ensure continuity of service? (preservation centric!). Or possibly all three - or more. Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCA John On 16 February 2017 at 11:55, Frances Hendrix <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I have been mulling over this hasty (and in fact insulting)response!! > > What has retired to do with it, or naysayers? > > And I presume you are not lending garden equipment and tools Etc for free. > > There are a number of matters to take into account if lending equipment , > tools etc. One is you are part of a local authority, and they will no doubt > be concerned about profit and loss, insurance, security etc. > > Lending equipment is a little different form lending books, video etc. > > Tools Etc need maintenance and cleaning. Some need servicing on a regular > basis, maybe repair, and some should not be used by people under a certain > age., so the matter of insurance for the borrower and the library. > > Storage is an issue, as you would not want items on open shelves, and some > stuff may be heavy, like strimmer's etc. > > Lots of other things spring to mind. I was not saying this is an area that > should not be considered, but one that needs careful thought and planning, > and financial aspects considered, such as purchase price, maintenance and > what you charge for the loan. Quite a different set of skills and > requirements than a traditional library. This is NOT to say it should not > be explored. > > The other comment re bags to advertise the library, not sure this is worth > it, as users already know the library, it is non users you need to > attrat65c. > > Now before you insult me further I want you to know I come from a wide > family of business people, all sorts of business from pigs to IT, garages, > property etc., I have run businesses and have an MBA, so not entirely > stupid just because I am retired!! > f > > > Frances Hendrix > > -----Original Message----- > From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask] > AC.UK] On Behalf Of Richard Veevers > Sent: 16 February 2017 9:31 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Library of Things > > Hello Sue, > Excellent, will follow this thread, very interested imho this is where > we're headed. > The advice the (retired) naysayers offer is limited by it's bias. > Yes: there are a million and one problems. > Imagine how many problems the naysayers offered up when we originally > wanted to give books to public back in the day;) > > > Richard Veevers >