Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Distributed Library?
A Distributed Library is a decentralized library of things created by people passionate about fostering local sharing economies. It functions similarly to a regular library, except the items you borrow aren’t stored in one centralized location and are held in common by neighbors throughout a community.

What is a sharing economy?
Our vision of a sharing economy is one in which members of a community are empowered to meet their own needs autonomously, without reliance on the state or corporations. This can be through managing common resources via the framework of a library, sharing food in community fridges or pantries, collectively managing labor through time banks and local cooperatives, or organizing to solve problems through democratic neighborhood assemblies. It is a local economy by the people and for the people, in which problems are solved cooperatively and necessities are taken care of through mutual aid.

How does the Distributed Library work?
Say you want to use a specific kitchen appliance for a single recipe, but feel that purchasing one is unnecessary. You request said item from the Distributed Library for a certain number of days. Because the library is not centralized in one building but rather dispersed through the neighborhood, you go to one of your neighbors two blocks down who is currently holding onto the item and pick it up. You use the appliance and once your lending time expires, the item becomes available on the online platform – so that the next neighbor who wants to try out a cool recipe can use it too.

Who owns these items?
All items belong to the community. When you borrow an item it is yours to use while it’s in your possession, until another member of the community needs it. No one person permanently owns any of the items in the library. They’re treated as common resources and managed collectively.

How are these resources collectively managed?
Through attending our monthly meetings, members of the library can join our democratic decision-making process. They can have a say in things such as altering the policies of the library, creating new ones, or coming up with solutions to problems that arise in the everyday functioning of the library.

What’s in it for me?
By borrowing instead of owning the things you use occasionally (think power drill, food dehydrator, or camping gear), you can save money, reduce clutter in your home, and meet members of your local community.

I can afford to buy and own any appliance and tool I might need, why should I join?
The benefits of Library Socialism are not just about money. Firstly, by sharing the collective wealth of our society between members, a library of things reduces the number of redundant goods needed to provide a rich, fulfilling life. Doing more with less helps to reduce the ecological footprint of our lifestyles. We get more done with less, and as such, we do less damage to the planet. Secondly, libraries democratize access to tools and resources, reducing conflicts of inequality within a community. And finally, by participating in a sharing economy, you yourself can help to build an alternative way to meet our needs collectively. You choose not to contribute to the emissions and human labor violations that come with purchasing most consumer products. You choose not to clutter your apartment with an appliance you might only use once. You choose to say hi to a neighbor in an increasingly disconnected world.

How do you get these items?
We are working on collecting as many items as we can for free from the community, through donations from friends or neighbors. For things we cannot get for free, we welcome monetary donations to help us realize this project.

Can I donate items to the library?
Stay tuned! We’ll have a link for donating items once our online platform is ready. For now, you can always contact us at librarian@libraryeconomy.nyc.

How can I get involved?
We’d love to hear from you at librarian@libraryeconomy.nyc.