Portland's Neighborhood Tool Sharing Libraries

Peak Moment 194: Need a tool for a few days? Don't have it? Neighbor doesn't have it? Borrow it from your neighborhood tool library! No tool library? Check out Portland, where several neighborhoods have started successful tool libraries just in the last few years. Organizers Tom Thompson, Karen Tarnow and Stephen Couche discuss how they got started, stories of community generosity, and the enthusiastic response of all who stop by. In these neighborhoods, there's no reason not to grab the tools you need and do that project! [www.neptl.org, www.septl.org]

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[jchahine]

I wish we had one around here -- have often thought of this idea. i wonder do local Tool Rental businesses have an opinion about this? I'd like to have seen a comparison of Pros and Cons. I'm assuming it's cheaper, but I didn't hear if they pay a fee per rental at the Library or not.

[peakmoment]

@jchahine, the tool libraries do not charge a fee for rentals.

[silversobe]

To have access to something when you need it, whether its a tool or necessity, ownership becomes irrelevant. Cars spend 80% of their life in parking lots. Tools probably much longer. Why hoard what you hardly use when others could use it when needed. We could completely redesign tools without planned obsolescence. Making them built to last and easily repairable if needed. Reaching an unprecedented level of sustainability, efficiency, and access abundance.

[MrRobertGulabo]

This is something I have thought about for a while and I am so happy to see this! Please keep up the great work! This whole business paradigm of "everyone must have one" is ridiculous. Every community should have this.

[workwithnature]

Ah peak oil such an eye opener Thanks :)

[lovestopsfear]

frickin awesome!!! Berkeley has a tool library which works with the public libraries and all you need is a library card. And Burlington, VT has a small garden tool library right in the lobby of the main library. i would love to know of other ones in the states or in the world.

[5lkk]

I don't know. I have a hard time equating an accomplished DIY putting together a well appointed home shop, to run of the mill consumerism. A tool that potentially would see rare use may be tool unpurchased, but when one is purchased, it's that important to have it at hand whenever needed.

[5lkk]

Cont; Then again it was a time when fewer tools where needed to construct, maintain a homestead, but probably a significant outlay all the same. Perhaps as not as much friendly lending as we would want to believe. An irresponsible person could really endanger your families well being. That was then, today is today. And we shouldn't be comparing a tool library to yesteryear. or yesteryear to tool libraries

[5lkk]

I'd have to think the trend for somewhat fully complemented as finances permitted. home shops has to be as old as the home stead act, if not older. A lot of work could be complted in the time it took to trave clear cross a township.

[nevyn1]

@monterock100 then start preparing the soil! ;-)

[nevyn1]

@silversobe wise words!

[nevyn1]

this is great! i love the total package, and the adaptabillitie to so many other uses of the system.

It would be great to add a bulletin board where members could post their problem and other members could come up with the solution and tell you how to use the tools to solve the problem.