Team

Alan Dalgairns is the Founder and Director of Library of Stuff CIC, a library that lends out items such as tools, sports equipment, and camping gear. He is also the Operations Manager of the Northern Hull Community Rainbow Garden. Alan has a background in IT and logistics. He worked for Kimberly Clark for 19 years, where he helped manage the development of a logistics solution that rolled out across Europe. He later took sole responsibility for the Manufacturing plants IT infrastructure with the support of global teams. In 2012, Alan moved to the University of Hull as a Support Engineer and then onto Support Manager for an “in house” not-for-profit software development company Called Seed Software, which makes mobilising systems for the UK fire service. In 2016, he took over managing the company for the University and managing a great team of developers, together they transformed the company from a surplus of £50K to a surplus of 250k in one year while bringing new products to the market and helping to get the organisation to a commercial footing. Alan's interest in the Library of Things movement started in 2006 when he realised some items on eBay were effectively borrowed (purchased, used and resold multiple times) but with all the hassle of packaging and posting. He started to see a better solution and found the “library of things movement” that began in the USA. With a passion for creating the Library of Stuff, he planned the project and formed the Community Interest Company in November 2019 and opened the incubator in March 2020 establishing it to borrow things in Hull and the surrounding area. Alan is a passionate advocate for the sharing economy and believes that the Library of Stuff can help to reduce waste and promote sustainability. He is also a strong believer in the power of community and the importance of working together to create a better future.