The Lexington Tool Library, your friendly neighborhood all-volunteer and member-run organization, is purchasing, cleaning, outfitting, and decorating a large truck. This will at least double our current storage and allow us to expand our hours and let us change up the Tool Library's location around town — parks, community centers, farmers markets, and more — providing many new locations for members to borrow tools from.

The Tool Library has grown so-far entirely based on the energy of volunteer members, membership dues (on a sliding scale down to $0), and generous donations from the community. Thanks to a generous donation from the Presbyterian Mission's Sustainable Development of People (SDOP) grant program, we can buy a vehicle and get it outfitted, but with more resources, we can build something even better!

Our first goal is to expand the space the Tool Library has to store tools. We have had to pause all but the most valuable donations of tools for the moment. In addition, the Tool Library aspires to include a wider variety of outdoor gear, kitchen and cleaning appliance, and garden and home tools, many of which we cannot fit in the current space. Examples include an extension ladder, a carpet cleaner, additional electric lawn mowers (one of our most popular items), a cement mixer, a kayak, etc. 

The second goal is to have a greater presence in other neighborhoods and community centers across the city. Having a mobile truck-based tool library (like a Bookmobile), will allow us to show up at farmers markets, parks, special events, community centers and more not just in the West End of Lexington, but across the city.

The third goal is gain independent access to the Tool Library storage for the dual purpose of expanding hours and catalyzing other community projects. The Tool Library cannot currently expand hours due to our location inside the United Way. As we train more volunteers on check-in/out and more members are interested in borrowing tools, we plan to add additional hours to accommodate more schedules, such as a Saturday morning. As we add new members and train to volunteers, we may increase these hours further. What is more, with a ToolMobile, members can make requests for special events, which can include outreach to our membership for volunteers to catalyze new community projects, such as tools and volunteers for a local parade, arts event, community kitchen, or community garden project. The possibilities are endless!

We're so excited for the Tool Library to have a new, secure, and beautifully-decorated Tool Mobile ready for members to borrow, volunteer, and donate.