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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

“Growing and sharing together”: A case study of the social impacts of libraries of things towards community-based scaling

Lahey, Sophia LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Libraries of things (LoTs) have potential to create positive environmental and social impact. However, not enough is known about their social impact, especially as LoTs scale. This thesis studies the case of Circle Centre (CC), a LoT in Lund, Sweden and analyzes the social impact of LoTs through interviews and a survey. After understanding the social impact, participants in a participatory qualitative interview workshop explore through drawing and discussion, how impacts will look in future LoTs. The results indicate that LoTs provides positive social impacts, but the extent varies among stakeholders. LoTs need to prioritize physical space, grow connections between community members, adjust to local contexts, and collaborate with external... (More)
Libraries of things (LoTs) have potential to create positive environmental and social impact. However, not enough is known about their social impact, especially as LoTs scale. This thesis studies the case of Circle Centre (CC), a LoT in Lund, Sweden and analyzes the social impact of LoTs through interviews and a survey. After understanding the social impact, participants in a participatory qualitative interview workshop explore through drawing and discussion, how impacts will look in future LoTs. The results indicate that LoTs provides positive social impacts, but the extent varies among stakeholders. LoTs need to prioritize physical space, grow connections between community members, adjust to local contexts, and collaborate with external stakeholders as they scale, all of which requires thinking beyond loaning operations. As a result, LoT leadership, funders, and societal collaborators can better understand the social impact of LoTs and how to maintain social impact while scaling. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lahey, Sophia LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Social Innovation, Sharing Economy, Libraries of Things, Scaling, Social Impact, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:009
language
English
id
9153170
date added to LUP
2024-05-27 10:07:57
date last changed
2024-05-27 10:07:57
@misc{9153170,
  abstract     = {{Libraries of things (LoTs) have potential to create positive environmental and social impact. However, not enough is known about their social impact, especially as LoTs scale. This thesis studies the case of Circle Centre (CC), a LoT in Lund, Sweden and analyzes the social impact of LoTs through interviews and a survey. After understanding the social impact, participants in a participatory qualitative interview workshop explore through drawing and discussion, how impacts will look in future LoTs. The results indicate that LoTs provides positive social impacts, but the extent varies among stakeholders. LoTs need to prioritize physical space, grow connections between community members, adjust to local contexts, and collaborate with external stakeholders as they scale, all of which requires thinking beyond loaning operations. As a result, LoT leadership, funders, and societal collaborators can better understand the social impact of LoTs and how to maintain social impact while scaling.}},
  author       = {{Lahey, Sophia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{“Growing and sharing together”: A case study of the social impacts of libraries of things towards community-based scaling}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}