Tool Library Steering Committee (February 2013)
The West Philly Tool Library loans tools to community members so they can perform simple home maintenance, tend their yards and gardens, build furniture, start projects, and learn new skills in a safe and affordable manner. We aim to be a community resource to provide home owners, tenants, long-time residents, and newcomers with the tools (and the knowledge to work the tools!) they need.
The Tool Library is a fiscally sponsored project of the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC). We are located at 1314 South 47th Street, just south of Woodland Avenue in a warehouse on the west side of the street.
As of April 2013, we currently have approximately 3500 tools and 1500 members. About one-half of our funding comes from annual membership dues and late fees. The balance is funded by generous community supporters including Woodland Building Supply, the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and the Philadelphia Activities Fund, PhillyCarShare, the Samuel S. Fels Fund, the Sparkplug Foundation, SCI-West, the Spruce Hill Community Association, and more.
The Tool Library is staffed by two part-time tool librarians and one part-time tool mechanic. A volunteer steering committee meets every other month to do fundraising, set policies, and other administrative and management tasks.
Interested in starting a tool library in your neighborhood? Click here for resources on how to start your own.
