Shelf Help: Louisville’s Tool Library Has You Covered
Why buy when you can borrow? Household tools are expensive and only needed occasionally, which makes the Louisville Tool Library such a great resource. (They offer classes, too!) Image: iStock
Need a pressure washer this weekend? A ladder for one afternoon? Instead of buying tools you’ll rarely use, you can borrow them from the Louisville Tool Library. The nonprofit, which opened in 2022, is part of a long tradition of tool lending. The earliest documented “tool libraries” in the United States were established during World War II, when sharing resources made more sense than buying duplicates. Today, that same philosophy is helping Louisville residents save money, reduce waste, and tackle projects with confidence.
What is the Louisville Tool Library?
The Louisville Tool Library is a nonprofit, volunteer-run, community-based lending system. It’s operated kind of like a book-filled library, where members can borrow a variety of household items on a seven-day lending cycle.
“Our tool library got started four years ago by my partner,” says Paul Faget, Louisville Tool Library’s founding member. “She had a plan for one that she wanted to start for almost 20 years, and then just realized that there’s no time like the present.”
Paul explains that he and his partner were in the middle of a major home renovation. While making big purchases of all types of equipment, they realized it didn’t make sense to keep all that gear exclusively for their own use. Instead, they’d offer access to others who needed it.
“It grew from that into a pretty huge conglomerate of a bunch of our friends that got together the space and a lot of the initial inventory,” says Paul. “It pretty quickly spiraled from there into becoming what it is now.”
The pair officially opened the Louisville Tool Library in July 2022, offering hundreds of items to people across the city.
Your Next Project Starts Here
The library’s selection has significantly expanded over the years. Members can easily browse the categorized inventory online, which includes items that are currently out but scheduled to return soon.
The selection includes more than 2,500 items across 20 categories, ranging from tools and medical equipment to books, electronics, toys, and games. This includes home improvement picks like lawn mowers, ladders, and chainsaws, as well as coffee makers, vacuums, and mixing bowls. There is even a wealth of camping supplies, such as tents, hiking backpacks, coolers, and lanterns.
In addition to lending supplies, the library hosts a variety of educational classes, including basket weaving, electrical basics, and sewing, to name a few — the classes and library hours are listed on the online calendar and posted on Instagram.
Thousands of Tools, One Membership
New members can create an account online to sign up for a $120 annual membership. The fee includes one full year of library privileges, which means taking tools home for a seven-day rental period. Lending limits go by what is called the “10 and two rule,” which means 10 hand tools and two power tools at a time, but larger quantities are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Renewal periods can be extended by another week, provided the tool doesn’t have a waiting list. If paying the full membership fee isn’t feasible, a sliding-scale option based on 0.1% of annual income is also available.
“We’re all volunteer-based and membership-driven,” says Paul, “so membership fees help us keep the lights on and the doors open.”
Help Keep the Louisville Tool Library Thriving
As Paul explains, volunteers handle everything from staffing the checkout desk (affectionately dubbed “the bench”), repairing tools, writing grant proposals, providing legal advice, and supporting every aspect of day-to-day operations. Potential new volunteer librarians can sign up for a 120-minute volunteer orientation and shadow shift.
The library also accepts monetary and tool donations, which can be arranged by emailing [email protected]. The current wishlist includes cleaning supplies, Sharpies, and computer paper, to name a few. These come directly from community members, so if something is sitting around your house that a neighbor might need, feel free to dust it off and bring it down to Louisville Tool Library!
Happy borrowing and lending, Louisville!
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.
