V&A&me

"The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A), set in London, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover 12.5 acres and 145 galleries. Its collection spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa" - abreviated from Wiki

At any one time there is only so much of this material on display, much of the rest of it being stored away, and seldom (if ever) seeing the light of day.

The idea is therefore to establish a V&A object lending library, so that many of the stored items (large and small) may be borrowed and enjoyed outside of the confines of the museum environment.

Fancy drinking from a 17th century goblet? No problem - the V&A probably has a room full of them gathering dust in a basement, but with your V&A&me membership, you can simply sign out a box of them, at no charge at all (you just use your house as collateral, or get a friend to act as your guarantor)

Larger objects, such as heavy stone buddhas or Roman marble statues, can also be borrowed. No object is considered too large or too small. If it's listed in the Lending Section, then you can take it away, and of course return it. (note - overdue fines will be levied in proportion to the value of the object)