Aaron Hilton doesnt exactly consider himself Mr. Fix It.
Oh goodness no, the East Vancouver-based software developer exclaims when asked whether he fancies himself a handyman. But Hilton was recently inspired to take on an ambitious DIY project after he discovered the resources available at the newest library in town one that lends tools instead of books.
The Vancouver Tool Library has set up shop at 3448 Commercial Street (at Victoria) adding Vancouver to the ranks of cities like Portland and Seattle, where tool libraries and tool banks have been operational for years.
Its just like a conventional book-lending library, says co-founder Chris Diplock, who has been working with the VTLs volunteer board of directors to get the project off the ground for about a year. Rather than books, the VTL will host a stable of wood-working, gardening and bike tools available for short-term loan to its members. It also plans to host workshops to help members connect with their community and hone their DIY skills and offer advice and recommendations to members looking to take on a project.
Part of our mission of community empowerment is not just empowering people with tools, its empowering people with the knowledge on how to use those tools, and really being a catalyst in the community for projects like community gardens or benches things that really bring meaning to space in the community.
A registered co-operative, VTL members are charged a $20 membership share and a $30 annual maintenance fee, which entitles them to use of the librarys tools. There will also be late fees if tools dont make it back in time. Diplock says tiered rates are available for students and low-income members.
The VTL plans to hold its official launch in the next six to eight weeks, but is currently open for a few hours two days a week Wednesdays and Saturdays to sign up members and volunteers and accept tool donations. The VTLs first fundraising and membership drive held on April 30 saw 24 people sign up, says Diplock.
Among them was Hilton, who stumbled upon the group by chance but recognized an opportunity in the librarys co-operative model.
Thats just it, I dont use a lot of tools in my life, so when I saw the idea of having a co-op of tools, that seemed to make a lot of sense for everything. To talk to the right people that would know more about the tools and how to use them, its also way more cost-effective to share tools than buy your own. And it just seemed like a great group of people, he says.
Since signing up, Hilton says he has plans to volunteer at the library and use his time there to build a RepRap machine, a 3D printer capable of manufacturing plastic parts including those needed to build other RepRap machines.
Hilton says the project fits in with his tech-focused interest, but is also in keeping with the VTLs co-operative spirit. Its the sort of project that individually, I might not have a lot of time to do but collectively in a tool library situation, there would probably be a lot of mutual interest in something like that... it would give us a new tool that we could all share.
For more information on the VTL, or how to get involved, visit VancouverToolLibrary.com
