Library of Things may close if new home is not found

The charity has been on Frome's High Street for nine years

A community-run charity which lets people borrow items they need is looking for a new home due to their current building being put up for sale.

SHARE Frome's Library of Things is located in a building which houses a Halifax bank branch that is being closed.

Owners Lloyds Banking Group said: “We've written to explain about the branch closure and that we'll be in touch when we know more about the future plans for the building.”

SHARE Frome said it estimates its 865 members have saved about £122,000 by using the library instead of buying things.

Community funding

Emma Gardiner from the charity said they had been using their current premises for free and will face "potentially having to close" if a replacement is not found.

"Obviously rates for rent are high, so we really need to put a call out to the community to help us to raise funding," she said.

SHARE Frome was the first official library of things in the UK and lends items from children's costumes and lawnmowers.

Emma said they are looking for a building in Frome that is a minimum of 800 square feet.

The charity has lent 3,564 items in the last 12 months

She added that within the last 12 months, the charity's running costs have risen by 290%, while there has been a huge increase in demand for the service.

By encouraging borrowing and not buying, which reduces material production and landfill waste, the charity estimates it has helped the community save more than 100 tonnes of new materials from being produced.