Filenews 30 May 2024 - by Despina Psillou
The first Library of Objects opens in Cyprus, an innovative form of trade based on lending instead of buying.
Similar libraries operate successfully in foreign countries, the head of the initiative and environmental expert, Athena Georgiou Sippis, told "F", clarifying that the action is implemented by the non-governmental organization Cyclodromio.
On the shelves of the library you will find many objects, such as tools, garden machinery, kitchen appliances, camping equipment, musical instruments. The inauguration of the library will take place in the presence of the mayors of Nicosia and Strovolos on Friday at 9:30 a.m., at its premises in walled Nicosia on Liasidou Street.
The Library of Objects, Ms. Shippi said, encourages reuse and for people to share items that they will only need occasionally, for a few times. It aims to reduce consumption and emissions and build a sense of community. It is based on the 'lend instead of buy' principle, limiting environmental impact.
Those interested can visit the website https://circularlibraryforall.org/ to see the items by category, as well as the borrowing cost. The available items, as he told us, came from donations to the organization and from a purchase, while the proceeds will be used to expand the activities of the Circle Airport.
For her part, the president of the Circle, Anthi Charalambous, noted that the aim is to promote the circular economy and reduce excessive consumption and the accumulation of objects that we do not use.
The benefits of borrowing from a Library of Objects, instead of owning them, he underlined, are multiple:
- We free up space in our home
- We save money by paying a fraction of the purchase cost
- We ensure that items will have a full lifespan
- We reduce the consumption of resources and raw materials,
- We reduce waste and carbon dioxide emissions.
"The impact on the planet of our existing consumption habits is not sustainable. Borrowing rather than buying and owning reduces our collective impact on the planet and ensures that the amount of waste is kept to a minimum. Production processes, along with disposal and recycling processes, are a major problem in greenhouse gas emissions that we must address individually and collectively if we are to tackle the climate crisis."
The concept of the library of objects is not new. Game libraries have been around since the 1970s, and tool libraries also flourished in the same period, particularly in the US and UK.
"The Cycloikodrome creates the first small Library of Objects in walled Nicosia. Help us collect second-hand items that are not useful to you and turn them into treasures for the whole community. Interested parties can contact 22667795."
Series of actions by the CycloEcodrome
In an effort to find ways to reduce resource consumption, the CycloEcodrome proceeded with the project "Circular Economy Actions for All", which was funded with a very small amount by USOLVE. The Library of Objects also falls within this framework of actions.
CycloEcodrome is a non-profit organization that aims to implement educational and research programs, conduct studies, as well as organize events, workshops and other activities on energy, environmental protection, climate change and circular economy. Also, to develop relevant information technologies.
