Libraries have long offered the option of borrowing media rather than buying it, thereby contributing to shared, sustainable use. In the spirit of a ‘sharing society’, this approach has now been taken a step further: with the ‘Library of Things’, the library will be offering items for loan from January 2026.
Contribute to resource-efficient and environmentally conscious consumption with every loan – this is what the Rhein-Waal University Library is offering its users in Kleve from 5 January and in Kamp-Lintfort from 26 January 2026 through its ‘Library of Things’. The range includes toolboxes, outdoor games and sports equipment, which can be borrowed free of charge with a library card. From balance boards to table tennis sets – the library offers items that may only be needed occasionally in everyday life, are too expensive to buy, or that people simply fancy trying out. This helps to avoid buying items for one’s own home that end up gathering dust.
The range of items is primarily aimed at the main target group of students, who previously took part in a joint survey organised by the library and the university’s student union (AStA) and were thus able to have a say in which items should be acquired for the ‘Library of Things’. However, members of the public aged 16 and over can also apply for a free library card if they’re interested and – as well as books – borrow items. You can browse the library’s online catalogue or in person at the shelves near the information desk. Items can be borrowed for 14 days from the library’s information desk.
In mid-December, project participants from the various sites and other interested parties gathered at the library to celebrate the upcoming opening. Library director Jonas Lamik and project coordinator Maike Schön also took the opportunity to thank the project’s financial supporters, the City of Kleve and the Campus Camp-Lintfort Friends’ Association.
