what would you put in a library of things?

Do you have a pasta maker you used a total of three times when you had that brief nonna-based identity shift four years ago? How about the vintage fondue set you got off Facebook Marketplace but never actually used? Or the power drill you hung a picture frame with once (badly) so now you’re mildly frightened of it? Every home has those items that made perfect sense when you bought them, but now mostly exist to cause a level of guilt, shame or just take up too much goddamn cupboard space. 

We all own a lot of stuff… too much stuff! And unfortunately not a lot of it escapes that mysterious garage corner, random drawer under your bed or the back of the linen press. Which raises the question: what if, instead of us all owning the same rarely-used things, we simply shared them? 

What is this? Some kind of non-capitalist utopia?! That could never work! Or maybe it could? This is the thinking behind a clever new participatory exhibition taking over SO:ME Space at South Melbourne Market as part of Melbourne Design Week from May 13th–17th. Presented by Lauren Brumley and Corey Ferguson, the project asks: what things are Melburnians willing (or wanting) to share?

The concept is a “library of things” – a community-focused spin on the regular library model, except instead of borrowing steamy fairy smut or heavy cookbooks, you borrow practical objects, useful equipment, excess materials, how-to guides or even skills. Visitors are invited to temporarily contribute something they’d be willing to share, while also requesting items they wish they could borrow. Over the week, the space will grow into a visual map of what the community has, needs and is up for lending. 

“Libraries of things” already exist in different forms around the world, offering access to everything from sewing machines and camping gear to tools, kitchen appliances and party supplies. They’re super-practical (yes, I do want to use a circular saw for this one project and no I don’t want to spend $200) but they’re also pretty radical in their positioning. 

They challenge the idea that every person needs to individually own every item they might need once every eight months. We don’t all need to have a dusty carpet cleaner in the cupboard despite only having carpet in previous share-houses! That’s silly! Why don’t we share them? 

We’re used to borrowing things from friends or family members occasionally, but often it’s the random items no one has that we need ASAP! It’s such a good idea to be able to tap into a community network to solve that problem. 

This got us thinking, if I was contributing to the South Melbourne Market version, what would I offer up? 

I’ve got a portable woodfired pizza oven I was obsessed with for so long I can no longer look at it; a watercolour kit (unused) purchased from a very compelling Instagram ad; several cake tins shaped like things no cake needs to be shaped like (one can act as a dog or horse); and a pretty good wetsuit that’s so hard to get on these days I need a team of people to get it on (one for each limb). I’d also donate DJ decks I urgently needed for Christmas but have never worked out how to use. 

In return, I’d like to borrow a pressure washer (for fun reasons, not cleaning reasons), one of those long outdoor tables grown ups seem to own, and perhaps a disco ball for a weekend. I don’t need a disco ball forever. Few people do. But for 48 sparkling hours? Absolutely.

That’s the beauty of this idea. It recognises that ownership isn’t always the dream it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes what we really want is temporary access to a hedge trimmer, not a lifelong commitment to storing one.

There’s also something intriguing about seeing what a city is willing to share. Will Melburnians offer practical things, like ladders and drills? Aspirational things, like a fancy coffee machine? Emotional things, like beloved cookbooks and magazines (hi!)? Will there be 12 slow cookers and zero sewing machines? It might point to who we are as a city. 

Obviously there are environmental benefits too. Sharing resources can mean buying less, wasting less and making better use of the things we already have. It can also create something many of us are craving: connection. Borrowing a waffle maker may also involve meeting the kind neighbour who owns a waffle maker. Cute!

And it’s a fitting project for South Melbourne Market, which many people know for excellent produce and cranking dim sims, but may not realise is also home to over 150 independent retailers under one roof. Beyond the food stalls, the market is packed with local makers, sustainable fashion, handcrafted gifts, and art and design-minded small businesses. The SO:ME Space in particular champions emerging creatives and innovative local brands, with previous pop-ups growing into names like Rollie Nation, Ena Pelly and Merry People.

So yes, you could visit this exhibition to donate a camping stove or request a glue gun. But you could also go simply to be nosy, inspired or reminded of the importance of community. Please note that items brought in will be for display only and will not be borrowed out to the public!

Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and is curated and delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria.

This article was produced in partnership with South Melbourne Market, a one-of-a-kind shopping destination for creatives, designers and small-batch makers. Take part in the What [*things*] are Melburnians Willing/Wanting to Share? exhibition at SO:ME Space as part of Melbourne Design Week from May 13th–17th.