OTTAWA’S CUTTING-EDGE LIBRARY
Tool-sharing empowers DIY-ers
Necessity might be the mother of invention, but she’s also the mother of co-operation. That’s one thing I learned from the strong response I got after writing about the growing Canadian tool library movement back in January.
People are coming together to make new tool libraries happen, and that leaves me with hope for something that I thought was dying. Despite the fact that the world has so many digital distractions these days, an encouraging number of us still want to make good things happen in the real world, with our hands.
Don’t have the tools to make your home renovation, woodworking or craft dreams come true? Tool libraries make this much less of a problem. Pay a modest membership fee, then borrow from collections of hundreds or thousands of different tools to use at home. Some cities even offer “maker spaces” where you can get bench and workshop space, along with the chance to rub shoulders with other makers.
So why is the tool library movement so strong in Canada? I think it comes down to two features of our national personality.
First, Canadians are a surprisingly hands-on bunch. I know from almost three decades of working with amateur Canadian woodworkers that we have some of the highest levels of woodworking skill and DIY home renovation know-how anywhere on the planet.
The second reason is that we like to share. We’re a highly cooperative bunch, with greater enthusiasm to accomplish things for the common good than you’ll find in many other places.
But handiness and friendliness will only take you so far. The actual development of tool libraries ultimately comes down to a handful of champions — individuals willing to invest time, sweat and hope to make something that benefits more than just themselves. And two of the most inspiring social champions are behind the fledgling Ottawa Tool Library (ottawatoollibrary.com).
Inspired by the success of tool libraries in Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and other places, Bettina Vollmerhausen and Donna Henhoeffer offer a combination of personal qualities that I don’t see come together very often in any one person. It’s even more rare to find two people like this working together on the same project.
These ladies certainly love tools, but more than that they’ve also got energy, vision, stamina and the ability to schmooze effectively. They’ll need all these virtues, too, since the task of establishing a tool library is a big challenge.
“We aim to be catalysts in the sharing economy,” says Henhoeffer, “but there’s only so much we can do. In the end it takes a community to come onside and make the vision happen. We’re excited to see Ottawa come together on this.”
So, what’s involved in getting a tool library started in your city? Besides market research to see if it’s even wanted, money has to be found. Even not-for-profit organizations need to pay for lights and power and rent.
And while government funding is available for some things, if you’ve ever pursued this kind of money you know that the government makes you work pretty hard for your free money. That’s why corporate sponsorships, crowdfunding, membership fees and tool donations are always part of the mix.
Volunteer or semi-volunteer efforts power the marketing, communications, co-ordination of volunteer staff and maintenance of the tool collection.
Like the idea of tool libraries? Get involved. Donate tools you aren’t using, give time and talent to the cause, get busy doing something real with your time and hands and mind. It’s a great goal, and a surprisingly Canadian thing to do.