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How rental ‘libraries of things’ have become the new way to save money (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

224 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.

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[–] realbadat 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Tool libraries are libraries, not rentals.

So no, they aren't saying renting is the same thing as a library. They are saying libraries offering more services are a great way for you to save money by not buying a tool you only need once or for a day here and there over the years.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I agree with the first part, but they are using the terms interchangeable of renting and borrowing. Talking about renting and subscription in the same vain as borrowing.

I just don't want the very cool idea of a library economy to be conflated with the "you own nothing" subscription/rent everything economy.

They both have similarities but the actual ownership matters IMHO or else you get rent seeking/enshittification.

[–] realbadat 3 points 6 months ago

That's fair, I'd agree the article does a terrible job of differentiating, and a company calling itself a library in it's name doesn't make it a library, just a rental service playing pretend for profit.