# P2P Lending Libraries London's 'Library of Things' is a P2P Lending Library for a Variety of Goods By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-07-27 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/library-of-things References: [brixtonblog](http://www.brixtonblog.com/library-things-opens-west-norwood/39375) & [libraryofthings](http://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/) London, UK is now home to the 'Library of Things,' which operates on the motto: "Why buy when you can borrow?" The social enterprise has taken up roots in West Norwood, a residential area of the city, making it easy for community members to borrow everything from DIY tools to camping gear. A membership to London's Library of Things is free and the items can be accessed for a small fee. Some of the items that have been contributed to the Library of Things for [P2P use](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lets-match-mums) come from brands like B&Q, Patagonia and Berghaus. As these companies recognize, a [lending library](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/im-library-people) provides a great opportunity for consumers to trial a product. Several resource-sharing projects and services like this one are now in operation, making the most of the booming [sharing economy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacemate) for all parties involved. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **P2P Lending Libraries:** The rise of P2P lending libraries presents an opportunity for businesses to provide consumers with the chance to try their products before making a purchase. - **Resource-sharing Projects:** The growing popularity of resource-sharing projects opens doors for innovative businesses to participate in the sharing economy and cater to consumers seeking more sustainable and affordable options. - **Booming Sharing Economy:** The flourishing sharing economy creates disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses to tap into the market and offer flexible borrowing solutions for various goods and services. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Retail:** The retail industry can leverage P2P lending libraries to enhance customer experiences and increase sales by enabling customers to test products before purchasing them. - **Outdoor Gear:** The outdoor gear industry can capitalize on the growing trend of P2P lending libraries to promote their products as people can try out equipment and potentially become long-term customers. - **Sharing Platforms:** The sharing platform industry has an opportunity to create innovative platforms that facilitate the borrowing and lending of a wide range of goods, connecting users and expanding the sharing economy. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Peer-to-Peer Sharing Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shapp.md) - [Open-Air Libraries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-billyotheque.md) - [Peer-To-Peer Rental Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peertopeer-rental.md) - [P2P Clothing Rental Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sizters-rent-lend-fashion.md) - [Peer-to-Peer Rental Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rax.md) - [Record-Breaking Rental Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rental-pop-up.md) - [Hyper-Local Gifting Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buy-nothing-project.md) - [Traveler-Targeted Bag Rentals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-borrow-bag-library.md) - [Hospitality Neighborly Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hotel-indigo-1.md)