Lewes Library of Things Terms of Borrowing

You're nearly there! Once you have reserved Things, you will have agreed to these Lewes Library of Things terms of borrowing:

Mission and ethos

Welcome to Lewes Library of Things! We’re on a mission to challenge the current economic model, capitalism, by making borrowing the preferred option for people which will reduce consumption and waste and improve the environment. By joining the Lewes Library of Things you agree to be part of its mission to challenge capitalism with a view to introducing a fair and equitable economic model. Well done!

We do that by:

  1. Helping people save money and reduce waste by lending out useful items like drills, camping gear and sewing machines from community spaces;

  2. Being open to all by offering a FREE service

We invite you to join hundreds of other Members near you in agreeing to the terms below. These terms ensure that your local Lewes Library of Things site thrives both now and into the future.

Definitions

The ‘Member’ – any person who has created an account via the Lewes Library of Things’ website www.leweslibraryofthings.org.uk.

‘Thing’ – any piece of equipment or ‘Item’ stocked by Lewes Library of Things

‘Lewes Library of Things’ (or ‘Lewes Library of Things’, ‘us’, ‘we’ or ‘our’) – the purpose-led project lending out items to Members

‘Borrowing – the act of hiring an item from Lewes Library of Things site and returning it on the stated return date

‘Capitalism’ - the current economic system that prioritises profit above all else, creates inequality and injustice, degredates the environment, erodes trust between people and facilitates the rise of fascism.

Joining & Membership

Only Members are able to borrow from Lewes Library of Things.

To become a Member, you must:

  1. Be aged 18 or above

  2. Give your personal details: full name, current postcode and a valid email address so that we can contact you

  3. Tick to accept this Lewes Library of Things Terms of Borrowing

  4. Provide ID on your first visit

Borrowing

Member Responsibilities

As a Member, you are responsible for:

  1. Bringing the Thing back clean. If the Thing is returned to Lewes Library of Things in a state that causes an unpleasant experience for the next Member, we reserve the right to charge a Cleaning Fee determined by Lewes Library of Things, or to ask you to take the item away to clean it. You agree that Go Local can charge your card for a cleaning fee.

  2. Bringing the Thing back on time, so the next Member isn't kept waiting. You must return all Things borrowed to the Lewes Library of Things site that you borrowed it from by closing time on the stated Return Date.
    You are able to change the Things Return Date by logging into your account on the Lewes Library of Things website, and editing the Return Date. This is only possible if:

    1. There are no reservations made by another Member starting on or before your new proposed Return Date

    2. You make the change before the closing time on the stated Return Date. If you have any difficulties with this, you must contact us before the closing time on the stated Return Date.

    3. The Thing hasn’t already been borrowed for a week or 2 weeks in the case of camping equipment. These are the maximum lengths Things can be borrowed for.

You understand that returning Things after their Return Date will incur a late fee of £1 per Thing day. If we have to collect a Thing due to non return then we reserve the right to charge a collection fee of £5.

You will receive notifications reminding you the Thing is overdue. These fees will accrue on your account and you will be charged when you return the Thing. If you do not return the Thing after 1 week of your Return Date, the Thing will be considered a ‘non return’ and you will be charged up to the full replacement cost of the Thing as per the website. You agree that Go Local can charge your card for any late fees or replacement cost incurred.

Some Things are heavy. We cannot guarantee being able to lift Things for you so please bring someone with you if necessary.

We will notify you in writing and issue a bill for the replacement fee.

You agree to:

  1. Give at least 24 hours notice for any cancellations of your reservations. If you no longer need to borrow an Thing or cannot fulfil a reservation, you agree to cancel it with 24 hours’ notice.

  2. Keep the Thing safe. If you have a problem returning the Thing, please contact us immediately. If you lose or the Thing is stolen from you, we will consider it a ‘non return’ and can charge you up to the full replacement cost of a new Thing. You agree that Go Local can charge your card for the replacement cost incurred.

  3. Return all Things in at least the same as were issued barring normal wear and tear. You agree to pay for the loss or damage to any Thing and further agree to accept Go Local’s assessment of the condition of a Thing and to further agree to Go Local’s assessment of fair restitution for damage, dirtiness, delinquency and/or loss of the Thing in part or total.

  4. Use the Things in a safe and proper manner. You agree to use any Thing you borrow for the job it is intended to do, taking appropriate safety precautions outlined in how-to guides if provided and if not, you are responsible for finding them out, and wearing personal protective equipment at all times when using an item that requires this.

  5. Familiarise yourself with how to use the Thing, by reading the Lewes Library of Things how-to guides or user manuals where available, watching YouTube videos or asking our volunteer team for help.

  6. Visually check the Things before borrowing and using them, especially for electrical equipment. For example, check the wires and plug for any visible damage before use, and don’t use any items outside or near water if not intended for those uses. We recommend using an RCD plug adaptor with electrical Things.

  7. Immediately stop using a Thing if it becomes unsafe or in a state of disrepair.

  8. Tell Lewes Library of Things about any accidental damage immediately via the Contact Us page on our website, so we know the Thing is unsafe for the next borrower. We will not charge you for 'reasonable use' wear & tear, so long as this is reported straight away. Where the Thing has been used inappropriately or unreasonable damage has been caused, Lewes Library of Things may charge you a repair fee or up to the full replacement cost of the Thing (at our discretion on inspection of the item). You understand that Lewes Library of Things is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in quality of workmanship or materials inherent in any borrowed items.

  9. Understand that you are insured to use the Thing that you have borrowed – but that nobody else is insured to use that Thing. If anyone else uses the Thing you have borrowed, that person is not insured for any damage to their person or their property. For example, if you are hosting an event using a Thing borrowed from Lewes Library of Things, you will need your own public liability insurance.

  10. Not borrow the Things to undertake any commercial activities. We will cancel any reservations that we understand to be for commercial activities. You will not be insured for this activity, and risk your membership being terminated.

  11. Having your bank card securely stored via encryption on our Stripe system in order to process transactions and act as a security deposit. Stripe has been audited by a PCI certified auditor and is audited to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification in the payments industry.

We’d love you to share your feedback, stories & ideas so we can keep improving Lewes Library of Things for future borrowers! (see Contact Us)

Now for the serious bit. As a Member, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Lewes Library of Things, its officers, agents, and employees for any and all liability, loss, claims and demands, actions or causes of action for the death and injury to any people and for any property damage suffered or incurred by any person, which arises in any way from the use of Things you are borrowing. If we discover you are not respecting the rules of borrowing and our guidance in how to use Lewes Library of Things and its Things in a safe and proper manner, we reserve the right to terminate your membership at any time. You understand legal action may be taken against you.

Lewes Library of Things responsibilities

Lewes Library of Things is responsible for:

  1. Taking reasonable action to ensure the quality and safety of its Things, including as a minimum:

    1. Sourcing brand new items, or fully refurbished items that have passed a PAT test.

    2. Carrying out regular item checks and inspections

    3. Carrying out PAT tests on all electrical items borrowed as a minimum every 12 months

    4. Alerting members to use appropriate personal protective equipment & recommending the Member wear this at all times when using the item (see Member Responsibilities 5).

  2. Taking reasonable action to enable the Member to learn how to use Things in a safe and proper manner, including:

    1. Making available digital copies of how-to guides and manuals for items where accessible. In many cases there may be no such documentation available so you must take responsibility for finding out yourself how to use the equipment in a safe and proper way

    2. Reminding Members to stop using Things and to report any damage or repair immediately on noticing anything unusual (see Member Responsibilities 9).

    3. Referring to You Tube videos or other media

    4. At Lewes Library of Things’ discretion, facilitating how-to events for more complex items

  3. Providing public liability insurance for hiring items to Members and making it known that this insurance only covers Members when they are using Things for personal use. Insurance does not apply if:

    1. Members use Things in a professional capacity to carry out work for a third party for a fee.

    2. Members lend or rent items to other people or do work on other people’s property. Lewes Library of Things is not liable for any damage that may be caused to people or property other than the Member and that Member’s property.

    3. Members use items to run public events or for commercial activities. Members will need separate public liabilities insurance for this.

  4. Handling any issues and complaints relating to borrowing in a sensitive and timely manner

  5. Storing all Member data as securely as reasonably possible, handling data sensitively and ensuring data is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation and other data protection laws. See the Lewes Library of Things Privacy and Data Policy below for more information on how we do this.

Communicating with you

As a Member of Lewes Library of Things, you may receive some communications from us, including:

  1. Reservation, check-out and check-in receipts each time you reserve and borrow

  2. A welcome email with information on how borrowing works

  3. Occasional service updates

  4. Newsletters

You can let us know via the Contact Us page if you don’t want to receive updates and newsletters from us

If you no longer want to be a Member of Lewes Library of Things, email us to tell us this via LewesLOT@gmail.com. We will delete all of your personal data within 5 working days.