Become a
Library of Things Volunteer
Help people borrow, share and make better use of the things they need
How often do you buy something for a job that takes 20 minutes—and then leave it sitting in a cupboard for the next five years?
Our Library of Things is helping Swansea do things differently.
Instead of everyone buying their own tools, equipment and useful household items, people can borrow what they need, when they need it. Everything from tents, tools, carpet cleaners, sound systems dehumidifiers, dehydrators and sports equipment. It's better for the planet, better for people's wallets and often a lot more practical. We're looking for friendly, organised volunteers to help make the Library of Things work and welcome more people into this community resource.
You don't need to be an expert! You’ll be trained on our lending system and equipment, and you can learn as you go.
What will you do?
As a Library of Things Volunteer, you'll help visitors discover what they can borrow, make sure items are ready to go and help keep the Library organised and running smoothly.
A typical shift might involve welcoming borrowers, processing returns, checking equipment, helping someone find the right item, updating the lending system and having a chat with visitors about other Environment Centre projects.
You could:
👋 Welcome visitors and explain how the Library of Things works
📦 Help people borrow and return items
🔍 Check, clean and maintain items so they're ready for their next borrower
🏷️ Organise, display and label equipment
💻 Help maintain our database and keep lending records up to date
📋 Record lending information and flag damaged or missing items
💬 Help members of the public choose and use items appropriately
🌱 Tell people about other Environment Centre projects, workshops and sustainability initiatives
📣 Help spread the word about the Library of Things and the wider work of The Environment Centre
🚲 Get involved in occasional pop-up Library of Things events in the community
There are all sorts of things in a Library of Things, so you don't need to be an expert in everything we lend. You'll have plenty of opportunities to learn about different tools, equipment and household items as you go as well as a full induction on the database, equipment and health and safety.
You won't be expected to know everything. Staff will be on hand to support you with questions, problems or anything you're unsure about and you will never be working on your own.
The role can involve moving and checking equipment, although we'll make sure you’re supported with heavier items and you won't be expected to lift anything beyond your capabilities.
What will you do?
When and where?
Volunteer shifts are flexible and can be arranged around your availability.
The Library of Things is currently open at The Environment Centre Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm and Saturday, 10am–2pm, with occasional pop-up events elsewhere in the community.
You don't need to commit to volunteering every day. We're happy to work with you to find a volunteering pattern that suits you. There’s no minimum commitment, although regular volunteers are particularly valuable. We’ll agree shifts with you based on your availability.
What are the benifits?
Volunteering with the Library of Things is a great way to meet people, learn new things and play a practical part in creating a more sustainable Swansea.
As a volunteer, you'll have opportunities to:
Learn about tools, equipment and practical household skills
Develop customer service, organisational and administrative skills
Gain experience working with databases, lending systems and stock
Meet people from across the Swansea community
Learn more about reuse, sharing and the circular economy
Take part in training and volunteer social activities
Have your reasonable travel expenses reimbursed
Get a reference after 30 hours of volunteering, helping demonstrate your experience to future employers or opportunities
Have a say in how the Library of Things develops and contribute ideas and feedback
And one of the best bits: get free or discounted access to the Library of Things yourself!
That means you can borrow useful equipment without having to buy it—whether that's something you need for a DIY project, a one-off job, an event or simply something you've always wanted to try.
Who are we looking for?
You don't need specialist knowledge or experience. What matters most is that you're friendly, reliable and interested in helping people.
We're looking for people who are:
Friendly and approachable
Comfortable chatting with members of the public
Organised and happy working with simple systems and records
Interested in learning about different tools and equipment
Comfortable using a computer or willing to learn
Happy working as part of a team
Curious about sustainability, reuse and sharing
If you're someone who enjoys helping people find the right thing, keeping things organised and making a useful community service run smoothly, you could be a great fit.
Why a Library of Things?
A Library of Things is about changing the way we think about ownership.
We don't all need to own a drill, a pressure washer, a carpet cleaner or a specialist piece of equipment that we might use once a year. By sharing things within our community, we can save money, reduce waste, make better use of resources and avoid unnecessary consumption.
As a volunteer, you'll be helping make that idea a reality.
You'll also be helping people discover that living more sustainably doesn't have to mean going without. Sometimes it simply means borrowing instead of buying, sharing instead of owning and making better use of what we already have.
Interested?
Drop us an email to info@environmentcentre.org.uk and we'll arrange an informal chat to find out a bit more about you, show you around the Library and talk through the role. There's no need to have any previous volunteering experience—we'll explain everything you need to know.