No late fees, either: Library of Things rents out tools, baking supplies for free

"There's some cake pans and pie pans. We've got a juicer, a quesadilla maker, a sandwich maker, a bread maker.

"We have camping things, coolers, a tent. We've got a hammock, I think. Some water jugs, and then some life-jackets.

"We got some lawnmowers. A waffle maker."

The contents of a foodie's bomb shelter? Nope that's just MegDorwart cataloguingthe varied offerings at Saskatoon's Library of Things.

The volunteer effort, launched five weeks ago, lends out useful but high-priced tools from the cozybasement of Saskatoon's The Better Good on Broadway Avenue.

All items donated

People can pop in on Saturdays from 12 to 5 p.m. CST to pick up an item and return it to the store on any of its business days.

"We're basically a library, but instead of books, we have a bunch of stuff to borrow and it's all for free," said Dorwart, the libray's coordinator.

"All of this has been donated by people in the community."

Dorwart says the idea is to cut down on potential waste and offer people an economic alternative to buying new but rarely-used items.

'Connection with your community'

One of the citizens taking the library up on its offer Saturday when the library held an open house was Daniel Sider

He needed a saw.

"I'm building a lamp out of salvaged materials and a piece of wood that I salvaged from up north," he said. "It's two and a half-inches thick so this should give me a rough cut. It won't be perfect, but it'll work well."

It wasn't his first time at the library.

"It's great. I think it's a community-based kind of concept and project and helps people that might not want to invest a $100 into whatever tool they might need for that 15-minute job, and it kinda gives a little more connection with your community and the people around you."

Items can be viewed and reserved on the library's website: libraryofthingsyxe.myturn.com.

The best part?

There are nolate fees, said Dorwart.