Katy’s Wee Tool Library Tour
In late August, I had the opportunity to visit the Edinburgh Tool Library (ETL), the Dundee Toolbox, and the Dundee Maxwell Centre & Community Gardens as part of a tool library tour with some colleagues from the Dunvegan Community Trust. The trip to these places was incredibly informative and has brought us closer to our own plans for establishing a local tool library.
Edinburgh Tool Library
Key Learnings:
Social: Chris, the Founder of ETL, emphasized the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive space to appeal to a wide range of people. ETL hosts events to engage audiences who may not typically visit a tool library and collaborates with organizations such as LGBT Health and Wellbeing to organize sessions like 'Making with Pride' and a 'Tools for Life' program aimed at upskilling young people facing employment barriers. Furthermore, volunteers are encouraged to lead workshops in areas of their interest, such as woodworking and bicycle repairs.
Environmental: The ETL uses MyTurn, a booking software, to analyze the carbon footprint of their work. They are also working on a carbon calculator to demonstrate the prevented carbon emissions due to sharing tools instead of buying them. Additionally, ETL volunteers aim to make homes more energy efficient through DIY elements of retrofit, focusing on reducing carbon footprint and saving money.
Economic: User feedback indicates that the main reason people visit ETL is to save money. The library sustains itself through a one-time membership fee and free access thereafter, as well as funding for specific groups and workshops.
Maxwell Centre Dundee
My experience at the Maxwell Centre was incredible. As soon as I entered the space, I was surrounded by a welcoming atmosphere. From the pictures of members adorning the walls to the abundance of books, information, and activities, the centre's impact was evident. The friendly faces in the office further added to the engaging environment.
The Maxwell Centre and Community Gardens in Dundee offers person-centered care and opportunities for urban food growing. They conduct workshops on various topics including mental health, upskilling, and disabilities. Additionally, they provide access to the internet, operate a community cafe, offer arts and crafts sessions, and organize wellbeing walks. Apart from being a signposting service, the center also serves as a welcoming and inclusive space for people to come together, enjoy nature, and enhance their social wellbeing.
Toolbox Dundee
The Dundee Toolbox is a library of items located in Dundee city center. It operates primarily as a library and charges a small fee, no more than £8 for there largest items, for borrowed items. Since the library was set up through a local health charity, the running and stock can differ. The organizers at the toolbox have taken the time to carefully consider what type of equipment could improve and ease the lives of their members, especially during the recent cost of living crisis. They have a lot of single parents in their area and want to stock products beyond DIY tools to ensure households don't need to spend large amounts of money on something they'll use once or twice. The library offers a variety of items including cleaning supplies, cooking equipment, camping gear, and children's toys.
The Toolbox staff were very generous with their help. Despite having made a few mistakes and altered their logistics a few times in the past, they were very happy to share their experiences and top tips with us. They gave us a lot to think about in terms of membership and pricing structures, stock and opening hours, and maintenance and replacement costs.
Dundee Changemakers
Katy also got to catch up with the Dundee Changemakers - the Climate Action Hub working across Dundee in the National Network!
