Library of Things

The Library of Things is a resource where community members can save money and reduce landfill waste by borrowing popular items that are only needed occasionally or for a short time - enabling a circular economy.

A circular economy goes beyond simply managing materials and waste sustainably—it's also about how we purchase goods to extend their lifespan and create opportunities for reuse and sharing.

The Library of Things fosters the sharing economy in Onkaparinga, helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with product consumption. It’s a collaborative initiative between Onkaparinga Libraries and Sustainable Onkaparinga.

The Library of Things is located at Woodcroft Library.

You can find the Library within Woodcroft Community Centre at 175 Bains Rd, Morphett Vale. 

We've chosen this site to host the two year trial of the Library of Things as the Centre also doubles as our northern green hub demonstration site. It showcases the type of building upgrades and systems that residents and businesses can put in place to reduce energy and water consumption, waste to landfill and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Libraries SA members aged 18 years and over can borrow items from the Library of Things. All items must be borrowed and returned to Woodcroft Library.

To become a library member bring photo ID with your current address to any of our libraries - membership is free.

Items in the Library of Things are browsable via the library catalogue or by visiting Woodcroft Library in person. We do not put loans on hold at this point (but are currently investigating this option as part of the trial).

All borrowed items must be collected and returned to the Woodcroft Library during opening hours. Library of Things items cannot be returned through the after-hours returns chute.

As part of our preparation, we carefully considered the survey feedback provided by the community, which highlighted the items they would most appreciate having access to borrow. These valuable insights helped us curate our initial collection of "things" to ensure it aligns with their needs.

The Library of Things is a two year trial.  Throughout the first year, our team has been actively listening to community input, and we are using this feedback to guide our planning for the second year of the trial. As the two-year trial nears its conclusion in March 2026, we will conduct surveys to gather residents' perspectives on the project's outcomes, suggestions for additional items, and ideas for future directions. Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of the Library of Things.

Donations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please chat to a staff member at Woodcroft Library. Electrical items will not be accepted as a donation.

The Library of Things aims to foster the circular economy and reduce excessive consumption and accumulation of objects that aren’t regularly used.

This two year trial initiative is an action in Onkaparinga’s Climate Change Response Plan 2022-2027. It expands Onkaparinga’s library services beyond providing access to traditional items, such as books. It also and adds value to our sports and toy library collections by providing other useful objects such as equipment or appliances to either try before you buy, or use for a short time to complete a specific task.