Local libraries and nonprofits have been in the business of lending free things to the public forever – not just books, but also children’s toys, artwork, gardening equipment, even living people, like homework tutors and tax advisors. The popularity of these organizations is testament to how effectively the grassroots sharing economy brings people together and strengthens the fabric of community. At the “saree libraries” of India, that particular fabric is silk.
Read Priti Salian’s heartwarming story about the unique libraries that are lending beautiful sarees that also help low-income women build social capital.
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Photos: Ashit Parikh