Louisville Tool Library helps neighbors save money by sharing resources
By Jennifer Baileys
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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Need a drill, sewing machine or even a lawnmower, but don’t want to buy one?
A Louisville nonprofit is offering a solution that works just like a traditional library, except instead of books, it lends out household items.
The Louisville Tool Library operates on a simple concept: Share resources so people don’t have to own everything themselves. While it may sound new, founding volunteer Shelby Rodeffer said tool libraries have been around for decades.
“A lot of people think we came up with the concept, but tool libraries have been around since the end of World War II,” Rodeffer said.
The Louisville Tool Library opened in Shelby Park in the summer of 2022 and has continued to grow. Everything inside the space, from the tools to the shelving, lights and computers, has been donated.
The library functions much like a traditional one, but with power tools, sewing machines, lawn equipment, camping gear and more. Unlike a public library, there is a membership fee, though Rodeffer said the cost is designed to be accessible for everyone.
“We’re sustained by membership fees that are sliding scale,” she said. “You could pay a minimum of $20 for a year, or you could pay 0.1% of your income.”
Inside the library, items are organized into three main sections: home, outdoor and traditional tools. Members may also borrow things like label makers, laminators, audio equipment, kitchen appliances and hobby kits, including rock tumbling and glass-cutting kits.
Rodeffer said the idea is especially helpful in neighborhoods where storage space is limited.
“In this neighborhood, it’s a lot of shotgun homes without garages. And you still have a yard, but it might only be 10 feet wide. And it doesn’t really make sense to own a lawnmower. Like, do you keep that in your living room, or where does it go? So this way, everyone owns this lawnmower together. We’re all responsible for the upkeep of it through our membership fees and through taking care of things while you have them borrowed,” she said.
Rodeffer added that the library is about more than saving money. It also focuses on education, sustainability and building community.
“This space is meant for you to try something out,” she said. “There’s no risk, but there’s a lot to gain by trying something for the first time.”
The Louisville Tool Library currently has about 2,500 donated items, nearly 400 active members and a volunteer network of around 80 people.
The library is open Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The organization is always looking for volunteers and donations.
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