Inspired by the fantastic work Library of Things was doing in South London, and determined to prove my radio story-telling skills, I spent nine months creating Library of Things Podcast, independently managing all areas from research and interviewing to editing and marketing.
This process was more demanding that I had predicted, and I balanced it alongside a full time job, but I learned a huge amount and after its release the four-part series was featured as a pick of the week in The Guardian, iNews, and The A.V. club, making every exhausting weekend well worth the effort.
from The Guardian
'The Library of Things is a behind-the-scenes look at a space where anyone can borrow useful items, such as DIY tools, gardening things, kitchenware, camping kit and events equipment, and learn how to use items in one-to-one sessions and workshops. It’s about how things connect people. It’s inspiring to learn about local communities and hear amusing stories about how ordinary things like a rake or a waffle-maker can suddenly help people find friends and improve their environment.'
from i-News
'The Library of Things loans out useful items (tools, kitchenware etc); Maria Passingham presents this podcast, telling the stories that emerge.'
from The A.V. Club
'The idea of going to the library and checking out a book on sewing machines isn’t a particularly revolutionary one. But what if you could go to your local library and physically check out the sewing machine? And what if the people at this library were willing to put you in touch with someone who could guide your hand as you made your way through your first few garments? That’s what the Library Of Things in South London is for. And it’s not just sewing machines; it’s also ukuleles and cameras and power tools and waffle irons—whatever useful items its thoughtful patrons saw fit to donate. This new limited-series podcast, hosted and produced by a member of the library staff, looks at the sharing community that has arisen around this unique enterprise and talks to those involved to see how it has affected their lives in ways that could not have been predicted. This debut episode examines the way these two blue shipping containers full of stuff have already proven to be a salve for the loneliness of urban living.'
from Grin News
'Stories from the members about what borrowers did with the things they loaned out continues to be the organisation’s driving force'