FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions at Share Bristol
Membership
1If I join one Share Bristol, can I use other sites too?
Absolutely! Once you’re a Share Bristol member, you’re welcome to reserve Things from any of our locations across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
2Who can get a Concession membership?
If your circumstances mean that paying the standard rate would be difficult (for example if you’re a full-time student or on a low income), please feel free to choose the Concession membership option when joining Share Bristol – no proof required. We trust everyone in our community to use this fairly, however, we may occasionally ask someone to switch back to Standard membership if needed or withdraw this option in future if necessary.
Borrowing Things
1How long can I borrow things for?
Our standard borrow period is a week, but you can book for up to two weeks. Need it for even longer? Just drop our Library of Things Manager an email at hello@sharebristol.org.uk and we’ll see what we can do depending on other bookings for the item.
2How many items can I borrow at once?
You’re welcome to borrow or have on reservation up to 10 different Things at any one time. That way, you’ve always got what you need, when you need it.
3Can someone else pick up my loans for me?
For your very first borrow, you’ll need to come in person with some photo ID and proof of address so we can confirm who you are. If that’s tricky because of a disability or other reason, just let us know and we’ll help out.
After your first visit, then yes we’re happy for someone else to collect on your behalf! You can add up to three trusted people to your account to pick up or return items. They’ll need to give your name when arriving at Share Bristol (since everything stays under your account), but remember that you are still responsible for the things borrowed.
4Do I need to bring any ID or sign anything when I pick up my loan?
On your first loan (or if you've changed address), please bring along some photo ID and something with your current address on it. Just moved? No worries, anything that shows that post is coming to your new place such as a bank statement or utility bill will do the trick. After that first time, all we need is your name when you arrive.
5How can I see what’s available to borrow? Can I come and browse in person?
Our shelves are packed tight and some items need careful handling, so we’re not set up for browsing in person. The best way to see everything we offer is by checking out our online catalogue. If there’s something specific you’re after, just ask one of our friendly Librarians and they’ll be happy to check what’s in stock and when it’ll be available.
Returning Things
1What happens if I can't return my loan on time?
We know life gets busy! Please try and return borrowed items by the due date and think about holidays or plans before booking.
If it looks like you'll miss the deadline (and nobody else is waiting), you might be able to extend online yourself if it's still within the two-week maximum. If not, just get in touch with us as soon as possible (email’s quickest!) and we’ll work together on a solution so future borrowers aren’t left without. As long as we hear from you promptly, late fees may be avoided – our main aim is just making sure everyone gets a fair share of all our great Things!
If a loan comes back late and we haven’t heard from you beforehand, there’s a £2 per day late fee per item as outlined in the Member’s Agreement. Don’t worry, we’ll try to get in touch if items are overdue, but after two weeks with no response or contact from you, we’ll need to move forward with our escalation process. If returning your borrowed item feels daunting because of fees or damage, or if something’s gone missing then please reach out. We’re here to help find a solution.
2Can I return Things to a different site than where I collected them?
Unfortunately not, as we just don’t have a way to make this happen without it being very expensive or time consuming. We ask that all borrowed Things are returned to the same Share Bristol branch where they were picked up.
Loss/Breakage
1What should I do if something breaks while I’m borrowing it?
All our Things are checked by our trusty Thing Technicians both when they’re donated and each time they come back after being borrowed, so they should start out in tip-top shape! Still, some Things get more use than they were ever designed for and sometimes things just break (even when used correctly).
If anything goes wrong while you’ve got an item, whether it’s accidental damage or wear and tear, please let us know straight away rather than waiting until drop-off. The sooner we know about issues, the quicker we can fix them up for everyone else or let the next person borrowing that item know what’s happening.
If something broke because instructions weren’t followed or there was an accident, then if you’re able to chip in towards repair or replacement, we’d really appreciate any donation. Every penny helps keep Things available for all! Unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t cover broken items but honesty and early notice always help us keep everything running smoothly.
2What happens if I lose the Thing I’ve borrowed, or it gets stolen?
We know life doesn’t always go to plan. If you can’t return the Thing you borrowed, whatever the reason, just let us know as soon as you can. That way, we can make alternative arrangements for anyone waiting on it.
If the item’s been stolen, your insurance might cover it: if so, please pass any payment onto us. Otherwise, a donation towards our costs for replacing it (whatever you feel able to give) would be hugely appreciated. The most important thing is letting us know so we don’t keep chasing and can put things right for everyone.
Miscellaneous
1Can you repair my broken items for me?
Right now we can only carry out repairs on items that belong to our Share Bristol collection. But there are lots of brilliant repair cafés dotted around Bristol (BS3, Kingswood, Hanham, Horfield, Sparks in town and UWE), so do find your nearest one if you’ve got something at home that needs fixing!