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:

Makerspace

Makerspace are places where people perform the following main tasks:

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

Belgium

Vancouver Tool Library, 2011

Canada

Ottawa Tool Library

Israel

New Zealand

Slovenia

Sweden

United Kingdom

United States

Arizona

Colorado

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

District of Columbia

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oregon

(SalemToolLibrary.org)

Pennsylvania

Texas

Utah

West Seattle Tool Library's Community Workshop

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tool libraries.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.