Tool library

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Tools available for borrowing at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vermont, United States Fletcher Free Library Tools.jpg
Tools available for borrowing at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vermont, United States
Tools available for borrowing at the Oakland Tool Lending Library in Oakland, California, United States Oakland Tool Lending Library 2.jpg
Tools available for borrowing at the Oakland Tool Lending Library in Oakland, California, United States

A tool library is an example of a library of things. Tool libraries allow patrons to check out or borrow tools, equipment and "how-to" instructional materials, functioning either as a rental shop, with a charge for borrowing the tools, or more commonly free of charge as a form of community sharing. [1] A tool library performs the following main tasks:

Contents

History

The first known tool lending library was started by the Gross Pointe Rotary Club in Gross Pointe, Michigan in 1943. [3]

In the late 70s and early 80s, what could be considered the first generation of tool lending libraries got their start. In 1976 a tool lending library was started in Columbus, Ohio; originally run by the city, the tool library is now operated by ModCon Living, a non-profit organization that works to preserve and revitalize homes and communities in central Ohio. The ModCon Living Tool Library makes available over 4,500 tools free of charge to both individuals and non-profit organizations. [4] The Phinney Tool Library was started at the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) in north central Seattle in 1978, and the Berkeley Tool Library was started in 1979 in Berkeley, California. [5] Many of these libraries were started with community block grants. [6]

A variation of the tool lending library model began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1992. At the Atlanta Community ToolBank (now ToolBank USA), the tools are reserved for use only by nonprofits and other community-based organizations who are performing volunteer and facility maintenance projects. The ToolBank tool inventory is not available to individuals.

In 2009, the community of West Seattle in Washington started the West Seattle Tool Library, which provides a wide variety of tools and resources for individuals and organizations while specifically encouraging sustainable urban living. In 2011, Popular Mechanics recognized "Building a Local Tool Library" as one of its top ten ways to change the world, while highlighting the West Seattle Tool Library. [7] In response to that recognition, a project called "Share Starter" was created that maps tool libraries worldwide and offers a free "Tool Library Starter Kit" to any community interested in starting a lending library of their own. [8] The kit includes start up guidelines, frequently asked questions, and sample documents. Additionally, the Center for a New American Dream published a webinar which highlighted insights from a handful of tool libraries on how to get started.

Spread

Given their increasing popularity and proven history of success, tool libraries and tool banks are now playing a role in the sharing economy and can be found in many local public libraries and makerspaces. Software platforms such as MyTurn [9] have been developed for managing tool and other types of lending libraries . [10]

Tool libraries also exist outside of the United States, with several in the UK, for example in Edinburgh, [11] Glasgow [12] and Liverpool, [13] and in Norway. [14] [15] [16] [17] There also exist housing cooperatives with shared workshops, for example Kampen borettslag in Oslo. [18] [19]

Equipment and facilities

Shared workspace

If a tool library chooses to host a shared workspace, some basic equipment can for example include worklighting, a workbench with vises, a woodworking bench, bicycle stand, bicycle pump, fire extinguishers, a vacuum cleaner, dustpans, brooms and a trash can.

Tools

The tool inventory is the most essential element of a tool library. Tools may be stored on shelves for members to access directly or behind a service counter for librarian access only. Tools must be numbered for cataloging, which is often done with lending software. What kind of tools a tool library should have varies with the community's needs.

Many tool libraries accept donations of well-maintained tools to support their inventory. Inspection and testing is required to verify the functionality and safety of donated tools.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equipment room</span>

A technical room or equipment room is a room where technical equipment has been installed, for example for controlling a building's climate, electricity, water and wastewater. The equipment can include electric panels, central heating, heat network, machinery for ventilation systems, air conditioning, various types of pumps and boilers, as well as telecommunications equipment. It can serve one or more housing units or buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley Public Library</span> United States historic place

The Berkeley Public Library is the public library system for Berkeley, California. It consists of the Central Library, Claremont Branch, North Branch, West Branch, Tarea Hill Pittman South Branch, and the Tool Lending Library, which is one of the nation's first such libraries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ToolBank USA</span>

ToolBank USA is a not-for-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia with a mission to strengthen local communities through the establishment of ToolBank affiliates across the United States and the provision of infrastructure to support affiliates. ToolBank USA affiliates are tool lending resources that serve charitable organizations in their metropolitan areas. ToolBank USA affiliates are stand-alone entities not consolidated with the ToolBank USA. ToolBank USA was established as a not-for-profit organization on March 27, 2008, in Georgia.

Markham Public Library (MPL) is a library system operated by the municipal government of the City of Markham in Canada. There are eight branches in the city, serving about 250,000 residents in Markham. The libraries are managed by the Administration Centre, located at 6031 Highway 7.

LendingClub is a financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was the first peer-to-peer lender to register its offerings as securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and to offer loan trading on a secondary market. At its height, LendingClub was the world's largest peer-to-peer lending platform. The company reported that $15.98 billion in loans had been originated through its platform up to December 31, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackerspace</span> Community organization

A hackerspace is a community-operated, often "not for profit", workspace where people with common interests, such as computers, machining, technology, science, digital art, or electronic art, can meet, socialize, and collaborate. Hackerspaces are comparable to other community-operated spaces with similar aims and mechanisms such as Fab Lab, men's sheds, and commercial "for-profit" companies.

Garden sharing or urban horticulture sharing is a local food and urban farming arrangement where a landowner allows a gardener access to land, typically a front or back yard, in order to grow food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oslo Public Library</span> Public library in Oslo, Norway

Oslo Public Library is the municipal public library serving Oslo, Norway, and is the country's first and largest library. It employs over 300 people and has over 20 branches throughout the city. Registered users may use the library every day, even when it is not staffed, from 7 am to 10 pm. It is also possible to borrow and return books when the library is not staffed. One of the most prized books in the library's collection is the Vulgate Bible of Aslak Bolt (1430–1450), Norway's only preserved liturgical handwritten manuscript from medieval times. The book itself is estimated to have been written around 1250. The head of the library from 2014 to 2016 was Kristin Danielsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maker culture</span> Community interested in do-it-yourself technical pursuits

The maker culture is a contemporary subculture representing a technology-based extension of DIY culture that intersects with hardware-oriented parts of hacker culture and revels in the creation of new devices as well as tinkering with existing ones. The maker culture in general supports open-source hardware. Typical interests enjoyed by the maker culture include engineering-oriented pursuits such as electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and the use of computer numeric control tools, as well as more traditional activities such as metalworking, woodworking, and, mainly, its predecessor, traditional arts and crafts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasco County Library Cooperative</span>

The Pasco County Library Cooperative (PCLC) is the public library system that serves all residents of Pasco County, Florida, and is a member of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium. The Pasco County Library System, as it was originally known, was established by county ordinance in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Library makerspace</span>

A library makerspace, also named Hackerspace or Hacklab, is an area and/or service that offers library patrons an opportunity to create intellectual and physical materials using resources such as computers, 3-D printers, audio and video capture and editing tools, and traditional arts and crafts supplies. In the field of library science, makerspaces are classified as a type of library service offered by librarians to patrons.

Toronto Tool Library (TTL) is a tool library system based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tool libraries loan specialized tools for both experienced and inexperienced community members who are interested in home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping. In The Kitchen Library, small to medium-sized appliances are loaned for cooking and baking, serving equipment, culinary workshops. It partnered with the Toronto Public Library in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Tool Library</span>

Vancouver Tool Library (VTL) is Canada’s original tool lending library system based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Halifax Tool Library (HTL) is a tool lending library based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Members pay an annual subscription and may borrow specialized tools for home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping. The HTL is a registered Non Profit community organization in Nova Scotia. The HTL offers standard, Student/Low-Income option, and organizational memberships to non-profits and small businesses. The HTL is supported by the HRM Capital Grant program, Dalhousie University student union, the Veith House Society, Ecology Action Centre, Parker Street food & furniture bank, Forest Friend, Bike Again, North Brewing Company, Catalyst, Fusion HFX, Deiter's tool and Saw.

Calgary Tool Library (CTL) is a tool lending public library system based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tool libraries loan specialized tools for both experienced and inexperienced community members who are interested in home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping. Makerspaces provide access to tools and resources and host planned programming, workshops, free play and community group times related to making, DIY, and innovation. The CTL offers tool library memberships to any resident of Calgary and area and to organizations. The CTL is supported by The Calgary Foundation, First Calgary Financial, Brookfield Residential, and Remington Development Corporation.

London Tool Library (LTL) is a tool library based in London, Ontario, Canada.

Cornwall Tool Library (CTL) is a tool lending public library system based in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Tool libraries loan specialized tools for both experienced and inexperienced community members who are interested in home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping. The CTL is a part of the Resource-Based Economy Group (RBEG), a registered Canadian non-profit, is responsible for the operations and management of the CTL. The CTL offers standard memberships to community members over 18 years of age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Tool Library</span>

Ottawa Tool Library (OTL) is a not for profit tool lending public library system based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Tool libraries lend specialized tools for both experienced and inexperienced community members who are interested in home repair, maintenance, building projects, community projects, gardening and landscaping as well as cooking. The OTL offers annual, short-term, group and gift memberships. See the website for current rates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Library of things</span> Collection of objects for loan

A library of things is any collection of objects loaned, and any organization that practices such loaning. Objects often include kitchen appliances, tools, gardening equipment and seeds, electronics, toys and games, art, science kits, craft supplies, musical instruments, and recreational equipment such as sports and outdoors gear. Especially appropriate are objects that are useful occasionally but cumbersome to store, such as specialized cookware or niche technology items. Collections vary widely, but go far beyond the books, journals, and media that have been the primary focus of traditional libraries.

References

  1. ↑ O'Loughlin, Margie (September 5, 2016). "St. Paul Tool Library soon to open in Midway". Midway Como Monitor . Vol. 42, no. 3. p. 1.
  2. ↑ "Events". Vancouver Tool Library and Community Access Center. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Special Collections | Grosse Pointe Public Library". grossepointelibrary.org. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  4. ↑ Weiker, Jim (October 18, 2009). "Tool Library welcomes borrows in Columbus Archived 2011-03-27 at the Wayback Machine ." The Columbus Dispatch .
  5. ↑ Stellin, Susan (4 November 2004). "Library Science, Home Depot Style". New York Times. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Library Dispenses Tools and Home-Repair Advice". Berkeley Daily Planet. August 19, 2005.
  7. ↑ DeMatto, Amanda (8 August 2011). "DIY Heroes: 10 Backyard Builders Changing the World". Popular Mechanics.
  8. ↑ Dunn, Patrick (May 9, 2012). "How to Start a Tool Library". Shareable. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  9. ↑ "MyTurn Asset Tracking software". MyTurn.
  10. ↑ "The Chicago Tool Library". The Chicago Tool Library. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  11. ↑ "Edinburgh Tool Library - Edinburgh Tool Library". edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  12. ↑ "Glasgow Tool Library - Glasgow Tool Library". 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  13. ↑ "Liverpool Tool Library". liverpooltoollibrary.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  14. ↑ "Verktøybibliotek - Deichman.no". deichman.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  15. ↑ knut (2019-09-06). "Her låner du verktøy – gratis". Trondheim 2030 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  16. ↑ Skille, Alf (2017-06-09). "Norges første verktøybibliotek". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  17. ↑ Bævre, Ann Iren. "Nå kan du låne to bøker og en borhammer på biblioteket". adressa.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  18. ↑ "Fryserom ble fellesverksted (Borettslaget Kampen) - Bolig & miljø 03, 2015 av OBOS BBL" (PDF).
  19. ↑ "Bolig & miljø 03, 2015 by OBOS BBL - Issuu". issuu.com. 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
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