Product Code Database
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.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.
Borrowing centers are part of the sharing economy, which was termed in 1984 by Harvard economist Martin Weitzman. In contrast to a Rent-to-own, 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. Historically some public libraries have offered items beyond print and audio-visual media, such as toys. The concept is also similar to Toy library, which have existed since at least 1935, and tool library.
One of the better-known borrowing centers is the Sharing Depot in Toronto, Canada.
1.Tool Library in Berkeley, USA
The First Tool Library started in 1979 in Berkeley, California, and now there are more than 40 tool libraries in North America.
2.Tool Lending library in Oakland, USA
Tool Lending Library offers all kinds of practical tools as well as books, videos and DVDs. And it is free to Oakland, Emeryville, and Piedmont residents and property owners.
3.Sharing Depot in Toronto, Canada
The Sharing Depot has been called as Canada's First library of things and it was opened in 2016.
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