OUR MISSION
We provide communities the tools they need to create the change they want.
The Tool Library is an all-volunteer nonprofit tool-lending library located off of Main Street in Buffalo’s University Heights neighborhood.
We believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to fixing up your home, growing your own food, or improving your community. For a small annual fee, our members — including people, organizations, and businesses — can borrow from our inventory of over 3,000 tools.
We also believe that a strong community is a civically engaged community. We put our tools to work on large-scale community projects such as neighborhood clean-ups, tree-plantings, community gardens, and public art installations. When communities come together, incredible things can happen.
Finally, we believe that you only know something as well as you can teach it. We transformed the storefront next door to the Tool Library into the Community Laboratory or ‘CoLab’ to provide a space in the neighborhood to host hands-on DIY workshops. By sharing skills and knowledge, we build stronger, more connected communities.
What?
A tool library is a non-profit program set up to lend tools out to community members to help them maintain and fix-up their homes and gardens. Tools can range anywhere from hammers, screwdrivers, and shovels to power drills, circular saws, and sanders. Individuals and businesses can donate tools to the program which will then be circulated throughout the neighborhood for a small annual membership fee. This revenue stream helps cover much of the overhead associated with the service.
Where?
The University Heights, running from Capen Blvd. to LaSalle Ave. is a dynamic and vibrant neighborhood that has seen incredible changes over its lifetime. Situated in North Buffalo and bordering UB’s South Campus, the highly walkable, diverse, and affordable neighborhood has begun to experience the neglect and disinvestment common to older urban neighborhoods. However, through low cost high impact programs like the Tool Library, residents of the Univeristy Heights and similar neighborhoods in Buffalo can be empowered to make positive changes.
Why?
The Tool Library will be open to all residents of Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs, whether homeowner, or renter. Thus, people looking for an alternative to buying expensive tools that get little use now have this resource at their disposal. Also, a tool library, in its most basic form, exudes the ideals of sustainability and community by lowering reinvesment costs while also fostering greater cooperation and collaboration among neighbors.
How to Join
The Tool Library will be open to all residents of Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs, whether homeowner, or renter. Thus, people looking for an alternative to buying expensive tools that get little use now have this resource at their disposal. Also, a tool library, in its most basic form, exudes the ideals of sustainability and community by lowering reinvesment costs while also fostering greater cooperation and collaboration among neighbors.
For an individual, business, or orgnaization to join the Tool Library the following things are necessary:
- Valid driver’s license or photo I.D.
- Piece of mail (to verify residency)
- Signed membership app. and waiver
- Annual membership fee
- 2 references with contact information