The Tool Library expands service area & inventory to bring affordable tool access to communities across WNY

The Tool Library announced that, starting today, it will expand its tool sharing service to allow membership from eight Western New York counties. Originally servicing residents in Erie and Niagara counties exclusively, individuals can now join from Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, as well.

This announcement comes following expanded hours of operation at the Tool Library. While the Tool Library initially closed through the month of April due to pandemic, it has since reopened with new sanitation measures and volunteer procedures to ensure the safety of members, visitors and volunteers.

Since the beginning of 2020, members have rented 934 tools a total of 4,647 times, saving an estimated $141,841 in total tool costs while completing DIY home improvement, gardening and community improvement projects.

To better meet the needs of a growing membership base and service area, the organization is launching its 2020 “Toolraiser” fundraiser: http://www.thetoollibrary.org/toolraiser/. This will help The Tool Library add high-demand tools to its inventory and also add tools that have been requested by its members. The goal is to grow the organization’s inventory by 750 (about $50,000 worth of tools and equipment), from 3,250 tools to over 4,000 tools by the end of 2020. This includes tools that will be used by individual members as well as items that will be used on projects in the community. The Tool Library is requesting donations of new or gently used tools, monetary gifts, and will also be running mini-fundraisers for individual tools on its Facebook page.

“From making much-needed home repairs to addressing food insecurity with community and backyard gardens, we see our tools playing a vital role for many,” said Darren Cotton, board president of The Tool Library. “We hope that by expanding our service area and inventory of borrowable tools, we can not only help people with saving time, money and space, but also build stronger, more resilient communities through one simple idea: sharing.”

Memberships can be purchased in advance at The Tool Library’s website, starting for as little as $20 a year. Donations can be made at The Tool Library’s location, 5 W Northrup Place, Buffalo, NY, 14214, during normal shop hours: 2-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday

The Tool Library is an all-volunteer nonprofit tool-lending library located off of Main Street in Buffalo’s University Heights neighborhood. Learn more at thetoollibrary.org.