Tool library: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Oakland Tool Lending Library 2.jpg|thumb|Tools available for borrowing at the Oakland Tool Lending Library in Oakland, California, United States]]

A '''tool library''' or '''shared workshop''' 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 [[The commons|community sharing]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/st-paul-tool-library-soon-to-open-in-midway/|title=St. Paul Tool Library soon to open in Midway|last=O'Loughlin|first=Margie|date=September 5, 2016|newspaper=[[Midway-Como-North End Monitor|Midway Como Monitor]]|issue=3|volume=42|page=1}}</ref> A tool library performs the following main tasks:

*Lending: all kinds of tools for use in volunteer at-home projects, facilityresidential maintenance and improvementrenovation projects, community improvement events, and specialweather eventsevent response.

*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.

*Maintenance: performing [[Planned maintenance|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.

*Education: Some tool libraries also provide educational classes. Vancouver Tool Library and Community Access Center (VTLCAC) in [[Vancouver, Washington]] offers individual project support and classes on [[woodworking]] and [[Service (motor vehicle)|basic car maintenance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vtlcac.org/events |title=Events |website=Vancouver Tool Library and Community Access Center |access-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804005815/https://www.vtlcac.org/events |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*Sustainable Reuse Advocacy: tool libraries encourage shared access over individual ownership of tools. Tool libraries may host or support a [[repair café]] or education event to teach maintenance skills and extend the useful life of tool inventory.

== History ==

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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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/diy-heroes-10-backyard-builders-changing-the-world#slide-1|title=DIY Heroes: 10 Backyard Builders Changing the World|last=DeMatto|first=Amanda|work=Popular Mechanics|date=8 August 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-to-start-a-tool-library|title=How to Start a Tool Library|last=Dunn|first=Patrick|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2016|work=Shareable}}</ref> The kit includes start up guidelines, frequently asked questions, and sample documents. Additionally, the [[Center for a New American Dream]] published a [[Web conferencing|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 library|public libraries]] and [[Hackerspace|makerspaces]]. ThereSoftware areplatforms such as MyTurn<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyTurn Asset Tracking software platforms|url=https://myturn.com/ |website=MyTurn}}</ref> have been developed for managing tool and other types of lending libraries .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicagotoollibrary.org/|title=The Chicago Tool Library|website=The Chicago Tool Library|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref>

== Spread ==

Tool libraries also exist outside of the United States, with several in the UK, for example in [[Edinburgh]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edinburgh Tool Library - Edinburgh Tool Library|url=https://edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk/|access-date=2021-12-09|website=edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Glasgow]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-10 |title=Glasgow Tool Library - Glasgow Tool Library |url=https://glasgowtoollibrary.com/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Liverpool]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liverpool Tool Library |url=https://liverpooltoollibrary.org.uk/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=liverpooltoollibrary.org.uk}}</ref> and in Norway.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-10|language=no|title=Verktøybibliotek - Deichman.no|url=https://deichman.no/vi-tilbyr/verkt%C3%B8ybibliotek_a0a7d14b-d85c-49da-876f-cb7e3a8e51e4|work=deichman.no}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-10|date=2019-09-06|language=nb-NO|surname=knut|title=Her låner du verktøy – gratis|url=https://trondheim2030.no/2019/09/06/her-laner-du-verktoy-gratis/|work=Trondheim 2030}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-10|date=2017-06-09|first=Alf|language=nb-NO|surname=Skille|title=Norges første verktøybibliotek|url=https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/norges-forste-verktoybibliotek-1.13552546|work=NRK}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=2023-07-10|first=Ann Iren|language=nb-NO|last=Bævre|newspaper=adressa.no|title=Nå kan du låne to bøker og en borhammer på biblioteket|url=https://www.adressa.no/okonomi/i/rEWPMA/na-kan-du-lane-to-boker-og-en-borhammer-pa-biblioteket}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> There also exist [[housing cooperative]]s with shared workshops, for example Kampen borettslag in [[Oslo]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fryserom ble fellesverksted (Borettslaget Kampen) - Bolig & miljø 03, 2015 av OBOS BBL|url=http://www.orebakken.no/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Verksted-Kampen-Borettslag.pdf}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-30|date=2016-03-09|language=en|title=Bolig & miljø 03, 2015 by OBOS BBL - Issuu|url=https://issuu.com/obosbbl/docs/bolig___milj___03-2015|work=issuu.com}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

== Equipment and facilities ==

=== BasicShared furnishingsworkspace ===

The basic equipment ofIf a tool library orchooses to host a shared workshopworkspace, some basic equipment can for example include [[Task lighting|worklighting]], a [[workbench]] with [[vise]]s, a [[Workbench (woodworking)|woodworking bench]], [[bicycle stand]], [[bicycle pump]], [[fire extinguisher]]s, a [[vacuum cleaner]], [[dustpan]]s, [[broom]]s and a [[Waste container|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.

Tools can be brought by the users or made available by the workshop. In some cases, the workshop is only equipped with simple hand tools, while more expensive special tools must be brought by the individual.

What kind of tools a tool library should have varies with the community's needs.

*Durable tools that are useful for many situations as well as safety equipment are important.

What kind of tools a tool library should have varies with the users' needs. One has to weigh up the need for tools that are useful for many people against tools that will be used little and take up valuable space. For example, garden tools can be useful if several of the users have gardens, but may be of little relevance if the users do not have gardens or are not interested in gardening.

*Specialized tools that are too expensive for many members to purchase individually or may only be used once or twice in a household are ideal for community lending. For example, a flooring installation kit may only be used once by a homeowner, but it can be reused by many different homeowners with shared access.

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.

== Rules of order ==

A well-functioning tool library has guidelines that users must follow.

=== Cleaning up after work ===

The users of a shared workshop are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. For example, it is expected that tools are put back in their place, and that one vacuums or sweeps up chips and dust before leaving, and that smells from paint, varnish and chemicals is aired out.

=== Storage and deadline ===

In the shared workshop of one housing association, it is expected that work should be able to be completed within 3-5 days, and that stored materials, objects and tools may be removed at the owner's risk.<ref name="kampenterrasse"/> A shared workshop is not a place for [[self storage|storing]] personal belongings.

=== Safety ===

Some [[power tools]] can be dangerous to use, and have an age limit or may require training. For example, [[table saw]]s can be very dangerous since the operator holds the material being sawed instead of holding the saw, which makes it easy to accidentally move the fingers into the spinning saw blade. Table saws can also cause dangerous [[table saw kickback|kickback]] where part of the [[workpiece]] is propelled back towards the operator at a high speed. A [[plunge saw]] with a track can, on the other hand, be a safer alternative that can achieve much of the same results for hobby use, and is therefore a much better candidate for a shared hobby workshop in terms of liability, risk of personal injury and training.

=== Enforcement ===

To ensure that the workshop is kept neat and orderly, there should also be a role of someone who enforces that rubbish is thrown away, that non-functioning equipment is either repaired or thrown away within a reasonable time, and that abandoned projects are disposed of.

== Opening hours ==

Some self-service workshops are open 24/7, but one must still take into account of public holiday peace and [[quiet hours]] during night time, and in general to not be of unnecessary nuisance to neighbours. For example, the shop owners may demand that no noisy work can take place between 22:00 and 07:00.

== See also ==

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{{commons category|Tool libraries}}

* [http://localtools.org/find/ Map of tool libraries]

* [https://sharestarter.org/ ShareStarter - website of the Lending Library Alliance]

{{Sharing economy}}