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Summer is here and for Anke that means more gardening.
From a hedger to a high-pressure hose, she has all the tools she needs, and they didn't cost her a cent.
"I just went to the Sydney Library of Things and I borrowed some items for the garden. I needed to work on the garden hedge a lot. I got my hedge clippers and the gurney here and a blower. And of course I borrowed the trolley to then get it home. "
The tools are on loan from the Sydney Library of Things.
They are just a few of more than 400 household items that members can borrow for an annual fee of $85.
Co-founder Carol Skyring says the library is ideal for useful, but rarely used, items.
"Basically, it works like a book library, but you can't borrow any books. So people become a member and it's a click and collect service. They go online, they decide what they'd like to borrow. Might be a kitchen item, might be camping gear, might be power tools. They book it up, they come in, pick it up, and they have it for two weeks and then bring it back at the end of that time, or extend it if no-one else has it borrowed. "
For Anke, it's a system with many advantages.
"I'm saving on money, of course, because I don't have to buy the items. And the other thing is that I don't have to store it either. We've got the maintenance team there to look after it, so I know that this is going to work."
The Library started nearly three years ago and now has more than 170 members.
It's run entirely by volunteers from a council-owned space in Lane Cove, and recently opened its third branch in Sydney's north.
Peter Englert is one of those volunteers, working on the front desk during the weekly open hours.
"I'm the first port of contact and help them out. So we generally look at to see what's actually going on that particular day and then get the goods out to get them ready. "
He says he enjoys seeing members' satisfaction, and helping the community cut down on waste.
"To me, it's a win-win-win situation. We sort of buy less, we throw away less, so there's less expense for people who probably don't need these things every day."
Local resident Sid Singhal is a happy customer.
"It's amazing because to get a pressure washer like this, it costs a lot of money. And with a annual membership you can actually borrow it for a couple of weeks."
"This looks almost brand new doesn't it?"
"It does, it's amazing the stuff we get donated."
All the items in the library have been donated.
Carol Skyring says reducing household waste is the key motivation.
"You just have to go around the streets at council cleanup time and see the amazing things that people just throw out. I don't think they realize that they just get crushed up and they go into landfill. So we feel that we are saving a lot of things from landfill."
Australians produce about 30 per cent more waste during the Christmas period, according to the CSIRO, and spend $900 million on unwanted Christmas presents.
The Sydney Library of Things wants to reduce that waste by selling vouchers for discounted yearly membership, as the Library's other co-founder, Bridget Kennedy explains.
"If you're thinking you might buy your dad a drill or some gardening tools for Christmas, you could buy him a membership to the Library of Things, and literally you're buying him a whole shed or tool shed full of tools at the same price."
Christmas also means parties, and for those needing supplies, there are lights, glassware, gazebos - even a chocolate fountain.
And six months ago, a toy library was created on the premises, which Carol says has been a hit.
"There are just mothers, kids, fathers everywhere. It's really popular. Dozens of toys are being borrowed every week, so just fabulous to see that happening."
Amid growing cost of living pressures, the Sydney Library of Things is part of a growing network - there are an estimated 25 community libraries in Australia loaning tools, toys and appliances.
One of the oldest is The Brunswick Tool Library in Melbourne which loans more than 8,000 items a year, while the Mullumbimby Library of Stuff in northern New South Wales lends around 5,000.
Bridget Kennedy says people everywhere are embracing the share economy at a grassroots level.
"Part of these initiatives are around rebuilding community as well. So it's not just about lending things to people, but I think they feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves."
