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Borrowing tools from the public library
University of Borås, Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9448-7985
2016 (English)In: Journal of Documentation, ISSN 0022-0418, E-ISSN 1758-7379, Vol. 72, no 1, p. 140-155Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Sustainable development
The content falls within the scope of Sustainable Development
Abstract [en]

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate tool lending library patrons’ perception of their tool borrowing, in order to explore the role of a public lending service in the context of their lives. It addresses the research question, why do patrons borrow tools from the library?

Design/methodology/approach– A case study was conducted, consisting of semi-structured interviews with patrons of a tool lending library. Led by a phenomenographic approach, the interviews focused on participants’ recounted experiences. Transcripts were structured into major categories and underlying themes. Findings were discussed from a perspective taking departure in Wiegand’s notion of “the library in the life of the user,” and summarized with regards to sustainable community development.

Findings– Participants are found to talk about their tool borrowing from two main viewpoints. First, reasons for making the decision. This involves weighing practical considerations, e.g., cost, storage, access, and frequency of use. It also includes ideological motivations, and sympathy with the concept. Second, effects of their borrowing, interpreted as how it enables them. This enablement includes inspiration, learning, support to self-employment, and strengthening of community. Patrons focus on local aspects of social and economic development, rather than global or environmental motivations.

Research limitations/implications– A single and in part unique setting was studied. The findings provide foundation for a developed discussion on the societal role of public libraries providing “non-traditional” materials such as tools, with particular regards to community settings and sustainability.

Originality/value– Addresses knowledge gaps on borrowing and tool lending libraries.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. Vol. 72, no 1, p. 140-155
Keywords [en]
public libraries, communities, borrowing, non-traditional collections, tool lending libraries
National Category
Information Studies
Research subject
Library and Information Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-8442DOI: 10.1108/JD-01-2015-0010ISI: 000370003000009Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84949761480OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hb-8442DiVA, id: diva2:893352
Available from: 2016-01-12 Created: 2016-01-12 Last updated: 2024-02-01Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Borrowing and lending tools: The materiality of x-lending libraries
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Borrowing and lending tools: The materiality of x-lending libraries
2018 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Libraries lend an expanding array of items: bikes, clothes, seeds, and tools, to name a few. In correspondence with this development, the library as concept is increasingly connected with current sharing trends. At the same time, the library is expected to still be about books, literature, and reading, to deal in information and documents. The library is regarded as a well-established and predictable institution of integrity. These intriguing dynamics of responsiveness and stability provide the inspiration for this work.

The thesis presents a case study of tool lending libraries. The aim is to explore what is introduced here as x-lending libraries: the idea of libraries based on the types of materials borrowed and lent. Findings show that patrons, staff, and managers experience their tool lending library as immediately and locally relevant to their community, rather than related to long-term global concerns. In their experience, the tool lending library is also decidedly different from other libraries. Seemingly, what is borrowed and lent is important to understanding the role different libraries play in their communities. In other words, material matters.

The work concludes with proposing a theoretical concept for how different values involved in library borrowing and lending can be understood, again in the community context.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Högskolan i Borås, 2018
Series
Skrifter från Valfrid, ISSN 1103-6990 ; 64
National Category
Information Studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-13871 (URN)978-91-981653-6-4 (ISBN)978-91-981653-7-1 (ISBN)
Public defence
2018-06-05, C203, Allégatan 1, Borås, 13:00
Available from: 2018-05-14 Created: 2018-03-23 Last updated: 2018-05-15Bibliographically approved

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Publisher's full textScopushttp://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/JD-01-2015-0010

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Söderholm, Jonas

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