Libraries of things: at the intersection of sharing and social economies

Emily Silva and Oksana Mont

Chapter 3 in Understanding the Urban Sharing Economy, 2025, pp 42-64 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter by Emily Silva and Oksana Mont examines the role of libraries of things (LoTs) in reducing consumption through socially sustainable practices. It highlights LoTs’ potential to address sustainability and service challenges in circular and sharing business models. The study, based on data from 90 LoTs across North America, Europe and Australia, explores motivations and business model configurations. Key outputs include a comprehensive framework for LoT business models, an empirical database, and four distinct LoT archetypes: public-to-citizen, community-driven free, community-driven paid, and scaling paid LoTs. These findings provide practitioners with practical guidance for designing effective LoT business models, highlighting trade-offs between sustainability and financial viability. The research also identifies the roles of public and private actors in supporting LoTs. This analysis aims to inform stakeholders about strategic choices and identify future research directions for social economy.

Keywords: Libraries of things; LoTs; Sharing economy; Social sustainability; Business models; Archetypes; Financial viability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035320530
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