Challenge / Goal
The Library Sharing initiative was launched to address limited access to household items and tools within communities, particularly in Icelandic libraries. The objective was to enhance community access to resources, increase library engagement, and promote sustainability by implementing the CLN system in libraries to facilitate item sharing, boost foot traffic, and improve membership rates.
Additionally, the Municipal Partnership initiative in cities like Bochum and Geneva was driven by the need to expand community services and promote urban sustainability. The goal was to collaborate with local tool libraries and municipalities to deploy CLN infrastructure in public spaces, making shared resources more accessible to residents, fostering community engagement, and supporting environmental conservation.
Overall, both initiatives aimed to address social and environmental challenges, promote resource sharing, and create more sustainable communities through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.
Solution
To tackle limited access to household items and tools, we implemented the following solutions:
- Development of the CLN System: We developed a system consisting of hardware, software, and a social platform to facilitate item sharing in libraries. This system enables users to borrow and return items easily, promoting resource sharing and community engagement.
- Collaboration with Icelandic Libraries: We partnered with Icelandic libraries to install the CLN system. This included setting up hardware, integrating software solutions, and training library staff and users.
- Promotion of Sharing Culture: We conducted outreach and marketing campaigns to promote a culture of sharing within communities. By highlighting the benefits of resource sharing and the convenience of the CLN system, we encouraged residents to participate in the initiative.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: We regularly monitored the usage of the CLN system and evaluated its impact on library engagement and community access to resources. This involved tracking borrowing patterns, collecting user feedback, and analysing key metrics to measure the effectiveness of the solution.
Through these steps, we successfully implemented a solution that addressed the challenge of limited access to household items and tools in Icelandic libraries, promoting resource sharing and fostering community engagement.
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Log inTime period
Planning time
Less than 6 months
Implementation time
6 months to 1 year
Implementers
City of Reykjavik, Circular Library Network, Environmental Ministry of Iceland
Service providers
Municipalities, Libraries, Universities, Student Housing, Real Estate
End users
All citizens