Borrowing center

A borrowing center, borrowing shop, borrowing bar, item library or library of things is a library of household items and tools, usually organized as a volunteer cooperative, nonprofit organization, or operated by the local public library.[1][2]

Borrowing centers are part of the sharing economy, which was termed in 1984 by Harvard economist Martin Weitzman.[3] In contrast to a rental store, which offers many of the same items, borrowing centres are operated on a non-profit or collective basis.

The concept of a borrowing center is not new.[4] Historically some public libraries have offered items beyond print and audio-visual media, such as toys.[5] The concept is also similar to toy libraries, which have existed since at least 1935, and tool libraries.

One of the better-known borrowing centers is the The Sharing Depot in Toronto, Canada.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ebrahim, S., Kenny, M. & Syed, S. (2014). “Borrowing Centres” in Student-Involved Campus Sustainability and Social Justice Initiatives in Canada. Toronto: Institute of Research and Innovation in Sustainability.
  2. ↑ Cat Johnson (Jun 15, 2016). "The Library of Things: 8 Spaces Changing How We Think About Stuff". Sharable. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  3. ↑ Janet Davidson (Mar 24, 2014). "Rise of the borrowing shops". The Hindu (Guardian Newspapers Limited). Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Kenny, M. (2012). ""Borrowing Centres" in Spaces of Resistance: Activist, DIY and Collective Spaces in North America". York University undergraduate’s thesis. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Moore, Julia E. (1995). "A History of Toy Lending Libraries in the United States Since 1935". Kent State University master's thesis. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
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