Page 15 - U4SSC Case study: Re-use of consumer goods and tools loaning, June 2020

iii Unlock

Present yourself at the local Library of Things at the time of reservation. Enter your details at the
borrowing kiosk and the thing requested will be unlocked automatically. A friendly volunteer host will
be available to help.

iv Borrow

The item is taken and used by the borrower along with the handy how-to guides and videos. At the
end of the allocated time, the item is brought back on time to the Library of Things clean and with all
its parts ready for the next borrower.

v Participate

Members can join the practical events based on sewing, making things, planting, up-cycling and
repairing or becoming a volunteer host, a thing fixer, a skill sharer or an ambassador for the Library of
Things (The Library of Things, 2018).

Additionally, a ‘smart lock’ system has been developed to enable borrowers to pick up and drop off
products when the staff are not around (The Libary of Things, 2018). Along with their ambition of having
a network of libraries throughout the country, this technology enables items to be available 24/7 and
easily accessible on phones. (Early, 2017).

ICT has had numerous roles in developing and running this project, and these are:

1. Crowdfunding
For the crowdfunding campaigns, communication through web copy, social media, email and, above
all, videos, proved to be vital as people generally decide in a matter of seconds whether to leave or
to learn more (Johnson, 2015). The websites used for the crowdfunding campaigns of this project
are Indiegogo and Kickstarter.
2. Website

As the world becomes more digitalized, having an active website is considered to be one of the
most important tools for any business. This has allowed the library of things to become known and
to remain competitive within the industry. According to a study carried out by Nielsen, 85 per cent
of consumers will use internet search engines to find a local business. Without an online presence,
the project might not have been as successful (Black, 2018).

3. Membership
ICT was used in creating a membership programme with online payment. The interested parties
can sign up easily from anywhere and pay for their opted membership package instantly. This user-
friendly feature renders signing up easier and is, therefore, considered highly encouraging for new
members.

Case study: Re-use of consumer goods and tools loaning, June 2020 9