List of tool-lending libraries

Tools available for borrowing at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vermont

The following tool libraries allow patrons to 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. The Tool library performs the following main tasks:

Tool Lending: all kinds for use in volunteer projects, facility maintenance and improvement projects, community improvement events, and special events.
Tool Advocacy: for the complete and timely return of all borrowed tools, to guarantee the long-term sustainability of available inventory. Staff also seeks compensation for lost tools and tools returned late.
Tool Maintenance: performing routine maintenance and repairs on all equipment to ensure good condition and to extend the lifespan of the inventory. This function is typically performed by volunteers and community service workers.

Makerspace

Makerspace are places where people perform the following main tasks:

to learn about technology, crafts and other kinds of making;
to share knowledge and skills with others; and
to apply this knowledge and skill by creating things.

History

A tool lending library was started in Columbus, OH in 1976. Originally run by the City, the Tool Library is now operated by Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that works to preserve and revitalize homes and communities in Central Ohio. The RTCO Tool Library makes available over 4,500 tools free of charge to both individuals and non-profit organizations.^[1] This tool library was among many in what could maybe be considered the first generation of tool libraries - including The Phinney Tool Library in 1978 and The Berkeley Tool Library in 1979 - most of which were founded in the late 70s or early 80s. Many of these libraries were started with community block grants.^[2] A variation of the tool lending library model exists in Atlanta, Georgia. At the Atlanta Community ToolBank, 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.

More recently, 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.^[3]

In response to that recognition, "Share Starter" began to offer a free "Tool Library Starter Kit" to any community interested in starting a lending library of their own.^[4] The kit includes start up guidelines, frequently asked questions, and sample documents. Also, Center for a New American Dream published a webinar recording, which highlighted insights from a handful of tool libraries on how to get started.

Given their increasing popularity and proven history of success, tool libraries and tool banks are now playing an exciting role in the burgeoning sharing economy and can be found everywhere from local public libraries to makerspaces. There are even multiple software platforms for managing tool and other types of lending libraries including "Local Tools" from "myTurn.com, PBC". The most recent addition to the global tool library network, The Edinburgh Tool Library was opened on March 7 in Edinburgh, Scotland

Australia

Melbourne, Victoria Maribyrnong City Council / Braybrook Community Centre's Tool Library – Woodwork facilities can be hired for classes and activities.
Brunswick (Melbourne), Victoria Brunswick Tool Library

Belgium

Kortrijk, West-Vlaanderen, Instrumentheek vzw – All tools (both hand tools and powertools) available for free rental.^[5]

Vancouver Tool Library, 2011

Canada

Calgary, Alberta - Calgary Tool Library: home repair, community projects, gardening & Calgary Public Library – Energy meters
Comox Valley, British Columbia, The Shed Tool Library & Maker's Space, Canada
Cornwall, Ontario - Cornwall Tool Library: home repair, community projects, gardening/landscaping ^[6]
Halifax, Nova Scotia– Halifax Tool Library: home repair, gardening/landscaping, automotive, electrical, plumbing, metalworking, and bike maintenance tools
Kingston, Ontario – Kingston Frontenac Public Library – pedometers, energy meters
Kitchener, Ontario - Kwartzlab Makerspace, 33 Kent Ave., Canada N2G 3R2
London, Ontario - London Tool Library: home repair, community projects, gardening/landscaping
Montreal, Quebec - Montreal Tool Library home repair, community projects, gardening/landscaping ^[7]
Montreal, Quebec - Helios Makerspace, 137 Rue Saint-Ferdinand #270, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4C 2B9,
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Makerspace Nanaimo, 2221 McGarrigle Road, Canada V9S 4M4
Ottawa, Ontario-Ottawa Tool Library, est. 2014 for hand, power, garden and hard tools;^[8] UOttawa Makerspace, University of Ottawa, Room B109D Colonel By building (CBY) 161 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario & Ottawa Public Library – pedometers, energy meters; & Imagine Space Makerspace, Ottawa Public Library’s Nepean Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 5K7
Sudbury, Ontario - Sudbury Tool Library:home repair, community projects, gardening/landscaping
Toronto, Ontario– Toronto Tool Library: home repair, community projects, gardening/landscaping & The Kitchen Library: small to medium sized appliances for cooking and baking, serving equipment, culinary workshops
Vancouver, British Columbia – Vancouver Tool Library: home repair, gardening/landscaping, and bike maintenance tools

Israel

זייפר – Lending a variety of tools for home improvement and instruction.
Hamafkid – Israel lending tools and other equipment site

New Zealand

Musical Electronics Library – a library of homemade electronic musical devices

Slovenia

Knjižnica REČI – a community-organized tool-lending library in Savsko naselje, Ljubljana

Sweden

Internet platform - Verktygsbibblan
Borås – Mötesplats Norrby, Borås Public Library
Malmö - ToolPool, Malmö Järnhandel
Gothenburg - A tool library at a student community in Gothenburg (SGS Ceres)

United Kingdom

Edinburgh – Edinburgh Tool Library: home repair, community projects, gardening/ landscaping

United States

Arizona

Globe / Miami – Globe, AZ Tool Lending Library
Phoenix Tool Shed – Phoenix AZ

Colorado

Boulder – ReSource Tool Library
Colorado Springs - One Voice Toolbox

California

Tool Lending Library at the South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library

Tool Lending Library at the South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library

Berkeley – Berkeley Public Library's Tool Lending Library ^[9]
Oakland – Oakland Public Library's Temescal Tool Lending Library
San Francisco – San Francisco Tool Lending Center (recently re-opened, check site for more information)
Santa Clara – Silicon Valley Power Tool Lending Library (energy-related only)
Sonoma County (Santa Rosa) – Santa Rosa Tool Library
Loma Linda – Loma Linda Redevelopment Agency's Tool Lending Library
San Francisco – PG&E Pacific Energy Center Tool Lending Library (commercial and industrial energy efficiency projects)

District of Columbia

Washington, DC - ARTillery Tool Library

Georgia

Atlanta – Atlanta Community ToolBank

Illinois

Bloomington/Normal - The Tool Library

Indiana

Bloomington – Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Tool Share

Iowa

Cedar Rapids – Matthew 25 Tool Library
Dubuque – Washington Tool Library 345 E 18th Street
Des Moines – Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity Tool Lending Library

Kansas

Wichita – Community Housing Services of Wichita/Sedgwick County's Tool Lending Library (defunct)

Louisiana

New Orleans – New Orleans Tool Lending Library, 1717 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA toolnola@gmail.com

Maine

Portland – Maine Tool Library, 224 Anderson St., Portland, ME 04101

Maryland

Mount Rainier - Mount Rainier Community Tool Shed - City of Mount Rainier tool library.
Baltimore - Station North Tool Library - City of Baltimore tool library.

Massachusetts

BYEN Tool Library - 2010 Columbus Ave., Roxbury, MA
Northfield Tool Lending Library - Caldwell Road (Transfer Station)

Michigan

Ann Arbor – Ann Arbor District Library (energy meter only)
Grosse Pointe – Grosse Point Public Library and the Grosse Point Rotary Club's Tool Library

Minnesota

Duluth – 1 Roof Community Housing's Tool Lending Library

Minneapolis - Northeast Minneapolis Tool Library

Missouri

Kansas City – Westside Housing Organization's Tool Lending Library
Springfield – Urban Neighborhood Alliance – ToolBox^[10]

Montana

Missoula – Missoula Urban Demonstration Project (MUD) Tool Library

New Mexico

Santa Fe – Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity ReStore Tool Lending Library

New York

Buffalo – PUSH Buffalo and Buffalo ReUSE's Tool Library
Buffalo – University Heights Tool Library
Rochester – Corn Hill Neighbors Association's Tool Library
Manhattan – SeaportTools.org Tool Lending Library
Troy – The Tool Library at CAC Woodside

Ohio

Central Ohio – Rebuilding Together Central Ohio Tool Library

Oregon

North Portland – North Portland Tool Library
Hands on Greater Portland – Hands on Greater Portland (only non-profits can borrow tools)
Northeast Portland – Northeast Portland Tool Library
Southeast Portland Tool Library – Southeast Portland Tool Library
Kitchen Share Southeast - Southeast Portland *Kitchen* Tools Library
Green Lents Community Tool Library -Lents and adjacent neighborhoods