Tools for everyone

Halifax Tool Library preps for its grand opening

When thinking about libraries, you’d usually expect books and scratched DVD rentals. Not so for this one.

The Halifax Tool Library is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to renting out tools in the HRM. Members pay a $30-50 yearly fee, and are able to take out any of the library tools. The library runs on donations from the local community – it’s a great place to store tools that would otherwise go unused for long periods of time.

The library isn’t just about building benches and bookshelves, however. It’s meant to bring people together who are passionate about what they do and who want to invest in the larger community, no matter what their level of construction experience.

“It’s a catalyst for community building,” says Tristan Cleveland, co-director of the library. “It’s a core value of ours that people share skills and experiment in something they might enjoy.” Cleveland mentions how important community is, especially with the younger population in Halifax.

“Having jobs available is crucial, but part of the equation is getting people involved in Halifax and getting them to think of Halifax as home.”

One of the hardest things for any non-profit organization is getting off the ground, but in the space of about a year, the library has gone from an idea to a full-fledged project, with an official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

“[The best part about this project is] seeing a non-profit go from nothing to something, right from the start…. It’s great motivation for people who made it happen,” Cleveland says.

The popularity of the project has attracted lots of media attention. “Now it’s all about having to live up to that,” says Cleveland. In the long term, Cleveland hopes to expand the library, perhaps even into off-site workshops In the meantime, the main goal of the library is to keep providing a functional space. The organization’s volunteers are key for this.

“[We] could always use more volunteers who know about tools and construction, because that’s always valuable,” says Cleveland. “With a background in community development, [we] had a lot to learn about tools.”

The library has been open since 2013, but will see its grand opening Oct. 4. Their collection contains over 450 tools, and is available to any registered member, whether they’re a novice or experienced builder.

Until Oct. 4, they will be open only Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cleveland said he “couldn’t be more excited to see the grand opening happening, and hope that people will come to see what we’re doing.”