Borrowing Spaces: The Geographies of ‘Libraries of Things’ in the Canadian Sharing Economy

Over the last decade, the sharing economy has resulted in numerous innovative sharing and borrowing practices, many of which have the potential to radically transform communities and societies. One such innovation is the Library of Things (LoT), a non‐profit sharing space modelled on traditional lib...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 2023-04, Vol.114 (2), p.157-173
Main Author: Lynch, Nicholas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Capacity building approach
Capital
community economies
Economics
Founders
Innovations
Libraries
Libraries of Things
Profit sharing plans
Sharing economy
sustainability
tool libraries
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Summary:Over the last decade, the sharing economy has resulted in numerous innovative sharing and borrowing practices, many of which have the potential to radically transform communities and societies. One such innovation is the Library of Things (LoT), a non‐profit sharing space modelled on traditional library systems, which enables users to borrow a diverse range of equipment, tools and goods. This paper contributes to the emerging literature and research on the non‐profit sharing economy and the role of LoTs as sharing spaces. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with LoT founders and managers, three main socio‐spatial themes are discussed in the development of Canadian LoTs: sharing cultures, sharing capital and sharing politics. Overall, this work highlights that the success and sustainability of these sharing spaces hinge on the negotiation of these complex social and spatial dynamics, ranging from their capacity to build spaces of collaboration, experimentation and community. The Toronto Tool Library: a vital sharing space and Library of Things in the heart of Canada’s largest city (photo by Tool_Library; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.)
ISSN:0040-747X
1467-9663
DOI:10.1111/tesg.12548