F(m)Lo(nn)E.

The seed of the idea sprouted back in Spring 2024 during a Climate Bootcamp (officially called the Climate Literacy for Sustainable Futures Skills Bootcamp) lead by the passionately knowledgeable Sarah King and Alessandro Columbano which was supported by Birmingham City University and the West Midlands Combined Authority. During the bootcamp… bootcampers were introduced to ancient and innovative methods to protect our planet, one radical solution included a free library of everything… they had me at ‘library!’, I was sold on the idea, and popped it on the must-eventually-try-to-create-to-do-list. I was searching for filing cabinets for ArtPULPs (Art Pop Up Library Project) and stumbled across some amazing lockers, lockers whispering ‘please spray paint me!’… so here we are.

If these particular lockers are not to be, the journal will still bring the idea to life, but it’ll probably be a micro library, rather than a mini one! And if all goes well, tomorrow, Jessie and her hubby and with a large van will be rollin up with lockers for the F(m)Lo(nn)E… aka the FREE (mini) LIBRARY OF (nowhere near) EVERYTHING. And here’s what the journal shall be doing with the lockers:

1. Gallery placement at 01902… finding the perfect spot for the units.
2. Dimensions, codes and spreadsheets
3. Asset list (to begin with we’ve got a small collection of creative technologies for everyone to play with, as well as a few practical tools)
4. Set up a wish list – for the readers, visitors and the community can pop down what they’d like to see in the F(m)Lo(nn)E
5. Set up the booking form system (I’m taking inspiration from Eastside Projects recent clear-out and will KEEP IT SIMPLE… she says…. :))
6. Write up the honour code agreement for joining the F(m)Lo(nn)E
7. Look into the possibility and logistics of inviting artists to artify the lockers… 1 locker, 1 artist maybe?
8. Take down Amazon, um, I mean, SMASH THE CONTROL MACHINE, um I mean… it’s really just an opportunity to share toys that’s gatherin dust with a community of likeminded individuals.
9. Analyse and adjust based on feedback received… if no one’s diggin it, or using it, then we’ll iterate so that it’s being useful, as well as fun, and novel (for now).
10. Oh yeah, (whispers it…) work it into that ACE app that needs to get out the door soon-ish, pretty please with a cherry on top. [note to editor :P]