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Barcelona promotes 'libraries of things': spaces where any household object can be borrowed
In Barcelona, there is no longer any need to buy a drill to hang a picture, nor to keep at home a sewing machine used only once a year. The city has established a distinctive model of shared consumption: Libraries of Things, spaces where local residents can borrow everyday objects for a symbolic fee.
Six points are currently operating across different neighbourhoods. The system is simple: simply register free of charge as a member, consult the catalogue at bibliodecoses.cat and reserve the object needed. The range is broad and surprising: DIY tools, unusual household appliances, camping equipment, pushchairs or even baby cots.
Borrowing costs from €1 to €5, depending on the type of item and the duration of use. A minimal amount compared with the cost of acquiring objects that, in most homes, end up stored in a cupboard for years.
The project responds to a growing trend: reducing unnecessary consumption and promoting more efficient use of resources. For many residents, these libraries have gone from being a curiosity to becoming an everyday service that makes it possible to save money, avoid impulse purchases and reinforce the idea of community.
Barcelona, which has already experimented with circular-economy models in other areas, appears willing to expand this network. For now, demand grows week by week and shows that, in times of inflation and environmental awareness, sharing is more than a good intention: it is a real alternative that works.