tool library webinar - new dream
TRANSCRIPT
Webinar Series: How to Start a
TOOL LIBRARY in Your Community
August 9, 2012 2:00pm EDT
Our Mission
The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice.
Program Areas: Redefining the Dream Beyond Consumerism Collaborative Communities
What is a Tool Library?
A library that checks out tools instead of books! • Low cost or free • Service for local community
• It just makes sense – The average power drill is only used 12-13 minutes in its lifetime
• Access – All residents have access to quality tools for little to no cost
• Community Building – Creates social hub where neighbors can meet each other
• Neighborhood Beautification – House values go up as residents fix up their their homes
• Resilience and Job Skills – People gain practical skills working on their houses
• Sustainability – Community uses fewer resources and has smaller ecological footprint
Why It’s a Good Idea
A Growing Movement
There are over 40 tool libraries across the U.S.! Is your town next?
Map courtesy of localtools.org
Today’s Speakers
• Michael Froehlich Co-founder, West Philly Tool Library
• Jason Hatch Co-founder, North Portland Tool Library
• Ty Yurgelevic Founder, Temescal Tool Lending Library
• Pete McElligott Founder, Berkeley Tool Lending Library
West Philly Tool Library
Founders: Michael Froehlich, Benjamin White, Stacey Hendricks, Morgan Riffer
City: Philadelphia, PA
Started: 2008
Structure: Nonprofit
Annual Budget: $20,000
Checkouts/Month: 560
Member Fees: $20-$50/year
Staff: 3 part-time, 10 volunteers
North Portland Tool Library
Founders: Jason Hatch, Laura Dalton, Matt Moritz, Jason Henshaw
City: Portland, OR
Started: 2004
Structure: Nonprofit
Annual Budget: $14,000
Checkouts/Month: 1,200
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 1 part-time, volunteer board
Temescal Tool Lending Library
Founder: Ty Yurgelevic
City: Oakland, CA
Started: 2000
Structure: Governmental (part of public library)
Annual Budget: $250,000
Checkouts/Month: 4,000
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 1 full-time, 4 part-time, many volunteers
Berkeley Tool Lending Library
Founder: Pete McElligott
City: Berkeley, CA
Started: 1979
Structure: Governmental (part of public library)
Annual Budget: $280,000
Checkouts/Month: 4,300
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 3 part-time, 1 intermittent
Let’s Begin!
• Brief Presentations • How each tool library started • Logistical challenges and successes
• More Resources
• Questions for Speakers
West Philly Tool Library
Founders: Michael Froehlich, Benjamin White, Stacey Hendricks, Morgan Riffer
City: Philadelphia, PA
Started: 2008
Structure: Nonprofit
Annual Budget: $20,000
Checkouts/Month: 560
Member Fees: $20-$50/year
Staff: 3 part-time, 10 volunteers
Getting Started
Critical Issues • Free space • Fiscal sponsor • Legal liability • Meetings with community
organizations • Flyering at farmers
market • Raising $10,000 with
small grants & founding members
Tackling Logistics Starting Small • In 2008: 1389 loans • So far in 2012: 3780 • Growing by 10%+ a year
Systems Issues • Good database system
(we use toollibrarian.com & love it.)
• Membership & late fees • Organizational members
& group houses • Plugging in members &
volunteers • Tool maintenance
Opening the Doors / Ongoing Challenges Community Economic Development • Targeted outreach • Classes • Sliding scale membership
North Portland Tool Library
Founders: Jason Hatch, Laura Dalton, Matt Moritz, Jason Henshaw
City: Portland, OR
Started: 2004
Structure: Nonprofit
Annual Budget: $14,000
Checkouts/Month: 1,200
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 1 part-time, volunteer board
Getting Started
Support • Recruit team • Build support - NA’s • Advocate • Interview/visit tool libraries Structure • Governmental v. nonprofit • Staffing? Location • Free, central location Funding • Community Development Block Grant • Mitigation funds • Private foundation
Tackling Logistics
Tracking tools and members • Coding • Paper v. software • Page v. no-page
Liability • Liability waiver
Insurance • General liability coverage
Staffing • Volunteers v. staff
Opening the Doors
Outreach • Local organizations • Local media • Neighborhood & school leaflet • Tool classes Membership • Portion, then all of NoPo free Unexpected Challenges • Location, tracking method,
collections, board development, staffing
Sustaining • Grants, events, direct mail,
fines/fees
Temescal Tool Lending Library
Founder: Ty Yurgelevic
City: Oakland, CA
Started: 2000
Structure: Governmental (part of public library)
Annual Budget: $250,000
Checkouts/Month: 4,000
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 1 full-time, 4 part-time, many volunteers
Getting Started Funding • Community Development
Block Grant: $81,000 • Initial grant limited patronage
to District 1 in Oakland. Later, funding was secured to open membership to all of Oakland, Piedmont, and Emeryville
Location • Available space in the Temescal Public Library
Tools • Purchased tools from Grainger, Home Depot • Tool donations
Tackling Logistics
Tracking • Library software – Dynix
Fees • No membership fees • Late fines: $1 to $20 per day
depending on tool
Liability • Every person from Oakland,
Piedmont or Emeryville who registers signs a waiver and indemnification form
Opening the Doors Outreach • Media • Presentations • Flyers at all branch libraries Membership • Overwhelming response! Unexpected Challenges • Maintaining and fixing tools • Getting returns on delinquent tools • Maintaining and updating catalog Stability • Friends of the Tool Library advocate for us • Current funding sustains us but our goal is to
expand into a bigger more centralized space and to add additional staff.
Berkeley Tool Lending Library
Founder: Pete McElligott
City: Berkeley, CA
Started: 1979
Structure: Governmental (part of public library)
Annual Budget: $280,000
Checkouts/Month: 4,300
Member Fees: Free
Staff: 3 part-time, 1 intermittent
Getting Started Funding • Federal Community
Development Block Grant • First year budget: $30,000 • After 10 years, part of library
proper, received funding from city taxes
Location • First location – trailer in library parking lot • Library maintenance helped build and set up
Tools • First tools mostly purchased from Sears • Over time, other suppliers • Better tools last longer
Tackling Logistics Tracking • 4-digit ID number engraved on tools • Borrowers need library card, photo
ID, proof of residency • Tracked loans using paper forms,
called delinquent borrowers (Today: use library’s computerized system)
Fees • Free for low income residents, small fee for others
(Today: free for all Berkeley residents)
Liability • Waiver and indemnification form (prepared by
City Attorney) • Over 33 years, no one has sued us!
Opening the Doors
Outreach • Publicity through library, media,
and fliers Membership • First borrowers from immediate
neighborhood • Over time, word of mouth
brought more and more people Unexpected Challenges • Limitations of tool selection and
patron access • Fraud and theft • Bureaucratic and political issues • Tool maintenance
More Resources New Dream’s Community Action Kit Guide to Sharing: newdream.org/communityactionkit
More Resources
• Local Tools: localtools.org • Share Starter: sharestarter.org • National Tool Library Google Group:
groups.google.com/group/toollibrary
Questions?
Thank You!
Special Thanks • Our guest speakers: Michael, Jason, Ty, & Pete • Adam Broner • Post Carbon Institute • You!
Next Steps • Webinar survey – Watch for it! • Recording available online next week • Join New Dream’s mailing list • Start your tool library!
Contact New Dream • E-mail Wen Lee: [email protected]