Tool libraries offer community members access to “power washers, hammers, drills, cameras, lawn mowers, pet carriers, grills” and such to help with project. “There are no tariffs on sharing. The more we share, the more we have.”
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I love our local tool library, which has been around for 10 years. I've borrowed tools for all sorts of projects, from tuning up my bike to demolishing a rotted-out tree house to upholstering some homemade stairs to help my senior dog crawl into our bed. Knowing that the resource of the tool library exists inspires me to imagine what sorts of projects I can accomplish. This article is absolutely right that the tool library naturally creates community; I always end up chatting with the volunteers about what I'm getting up to, and having someone ask, "How did it go?" when I return my tools gives me a warm feeling.
The Berkeley, CA library has had a tool-lending library since before I moved here 30 years. I though that was pretty slick, and I use it all the time, but ten years ago they started lending kitchen appliances. Need a stand mixer? Check. Air fryer? Check. Weird assortment of cookie cutters? Check. Cuisinart? Instapot? Every damn thing you might require to cook something? Check, check, and mega-check. It's the kind of socialism everyone can agree on.
Same here in Pacific Grove, though I’m not sure if they have power tools, but they definitely have a pasta maker and instant pot on loan, as well vinyl and paintings you can check out six months at a time, which I would have loved when I moved into my first apartment.
My wife and friends founded the Mobility Aids Lending Library which collects and loans out gently used mobility equipment to whoever needs it. Users can use the stuff for as long as needed. It's a brilliant organization.
I screwed up the link: https://mobilityaidslendinglibrary.org/
Our library has a “library of things” you can check out. It’s got a bunch of things that fall into the category of “super handy but I will only use this once, or very rarely”, like machines to digitize photo slides, knife sharpener, passes to museums, telescope, etc. it’s awesome.
Tool libraries are great. My wife and I founded the tool library in Anchorage, which is now being run through a part of the Seed Lab connected to the Anchorage Museum.
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