Library Of Things Consideration
communicating, acquisition, compatibility, storage, scheduling, maintenance, exit strategyfolder_shared Library of Things
In a library of things, each participant contributes one or more items to share with the community. In return, they can borrow any of the items that are available in the library. This type of sharing allows for a wide variety of items to be available for borrowing, as each participant can contribute something that they may not use very often.
Common examples of a library of things include tools (gardening, carpentry, etc), DVDs, games, music, books, and toys,However, sharing several items of things, can be a bit more complicated than sharing a single item. Here are some things to consider:
Item Acquisition:
One option is for the co-owners to purchase the items together, splitting the costs equally. Another option is for each co-owner to contribute one or several items that they already own to the shared collection, thus reducing the initial cost of purchasing new items .Handling Broken Items:
Despite precautions, accidents can happen. Establish a protocol for reporting and addressing broken or damaged items. Decide whether the borrower responsible will fix/replace it or create an emergency fund for covering such costs.Compatibility:
When purchasing items with the intention of sharing them, it is important to consider compatibility. While it may be tempting to purchase a variety of different items, it is important to make sure that all of the items are compatible with each other. This will ensure that they can be used together and that they will work effectively.Storage:
Another important consideration when sharing several items of things is storage. Items can take up a lot of space, so it is important to have a designated storage area for them. This could be a shared toolbox or a designated area in a garage or workshop. It is also important to ensure that the storage area is secure and that all items are properly labeled to avoid confusion.Usage Schedule:
When sharing several items of things, it is important to establish a usage schedule to avoid conflicts. This could involve creating a shared calendar or scheduling item use in advance. It is also important to be respectful of each other's time and to return items promptly when they are no longer needed.Maintenance and Repairs:
It is important to establish a maintenance and repair plan for shared items. This could involve assigning responsibility for maintenance and repairs to a specific person or rotating responsibilities among all co-owners. It is also important to ensure that all items are kept clean and in good working order to avoid unnecessary repairs.Have an exit strategy:
It is important to have a plan for how the shared items will be divided if one or more co-owners move away, lose interest.
Tips for creating Library of Things Group Sharing:
Description
Make sure you provide information on usage scheduling, maintenance costs, and procedures for handling broken items.Participant:
In most common scenarios, the Participant of the Deal is limited to a specific location, such as your neighborhood. This limits participants to be from the same area, whether they are your friend or not. This can be done by selecting Nearby as the participant option and choosing either your current location or a location that you have saved before.
Typically, the items shared in a Library of Things are cheap but numerous, and it doesn't make sense to travel long distances to borrow one.Trigger:
In most cases, you should use the Count trigger to set a minimum number of items that need to be available, regardless of which items are chosen by the participants (but still respect the maximum of each item).Item:
Create a list of each item you wish to include in the library, along with the maximum number of each item that you want to have available. Each item should be priced at $0, which is just to keep track of who will bring the items.
You have the option to set item limits to control the quantity of certain items. For example, if you want to restrict the number of axes in a shared library, you can specify an item limit of 2.Note to Potential Participant and to Participant:
It's recommended to include details on where the items will be stored, such as Jim's shed, in the Note to Potential Participants. Additionally, if the items are locked and require a combination or access instructions, this information should be shared in the Note to Participants. This ensures that only potential participants are aware of the storage location and only actual participants have the necessary information to access the items