The Tool Library is open for all your DIY tool borrowing needs!
The Tool Library is located at 2626 Main Street in Buffalo.
Parking is available in the parking lot right next to our building. Please refer to this map for where to park and where not to park. When arriving, we recommend turning onto Amherst Street and then turning onto Parker Avenue (note that you can’t turn left onto Parker Avenue from Main Street).
We are on the same block as the Amherst Street Metro Rail Station, and a very close walk to bus stops for NFTA’s 8, 23 and 32 bus lines.
Please refer to the information below on how to pick up and drop off tools, our hours of operations, and our tool–borrowing rules.
PICK-UP PROCESS
- Ensure you have a valid Tool Library membership by either signing up as a new member or renewing your existing membership.
- Please note that we are NOT able to provide tool reservations for individuals. If you would like to ensure an item is available before visiting the shop, please call (716-510-1745) ahead of time and our volunteers can set tools aside for a SAME-DAY PICKUP.
- If you are a community organization looking to reserve tools for an event, please fill out our Community Event Tool Reservation. (Please provide us with at least 2-weeks’ notice.)
- Only the Member is authorized to borrow tools under their account. Members must verify identity before borrowing tools. If you need someone else to pick up tools for you, you MUST contact The Tool Library ahead of time to make the appropriate arrangements.
WAITLIST PROCESS
- When there are more members requesting a tool then we have in the inventory, we will maintain a waitlist for that tool.
- When someone requests a tool that is currently checked out, we will add their name to the waitlist along with the date added.
- If you notice that a tool is marked “waitlist” in the inventory, you can call or email us to be added to the waitlist
- When a tool becomes available:
- We contact the next person on the list.
- They have until the end of the next business day to pick it up or respond
- If they don’t respond, we move on to the next person.
- Example: Called Wednesday → deadline is end of day Thursday to pickup.
- Please note that our waitlist is not currently integrated with our inventory system (we’re working on that!), so there may be tools that are on the waitlist that aren’t currently tagged as “waitlist” in the inventory.
- Please note that you must have an active membership in order to be added to the waitlist.
DROP-OFF PROCESS
- Please clean and sanitize your tools before returning them to The Tool Library. Recommended ways to sanitize tools can be found on the CDC’s website.
- Items that are not cleaned before being returned are subject to a $5 cleaning fee.
- All items need to be returned in-person during our regular hours of operation.
- Please DO NOT leave tools outside The Tool Library outside our regular hours of operation.
- If items are broken, need maintenance, or did not perform as expected, please let the volunteer/staff member on shift know what the issue was so that is can be addressed.
MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UP & RENEWAL
We still encourage everyone to process their membership sign-ups and membership renewals remotely via our website and the myTurn platform, which can be done here. If you’ve forgotten your account password, you can reset it via the email you have on file with us.
If you do not have a smartphone or access to the internet, our volunteers can fill out an application for you in the shop.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays
2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturdays
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
TOOL-LENDING AGREEMENT
All members must sign off on The Tool Library’s ‘Tool-Lending Agreement’ and ‘Waiver & Indemnification’ before joining.