López, Claudia, and Rosta Farzan. "Lend me sugar, I am your neighbor! A content analysis of online forums for local communities." Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Communities and Technologies. 2015.

This study investigates 22 online forums designed for local community development, analyzing how shared content contributes to community goals and the sustainability of these platforms. Findings reveal that local forums primarily facilitate resource mobilization among residents, heavily relying on offline connections, which alters online interaction patterns. The interplay between offline and online relationships presents both challenges and opportunities for sustaining vibrant community forums.