The average household owns 100+ tools, most used a handful of times per year. A drill bought for one shelf-mounting job sits in a drawer for the next five years. A circular saw used to build one bookshelf gathers dust for the next decade. Across a neighbourhood of 1,000 households, this is roughly 100,000 underutilised tools, representing significant embedded carbon, money, and storage space.
Tool libraries solve this by sharing tools across many households. One drill, kept in a local library, can serve dozens of users with the same lifetime utility as dozens of individual purchases.
What tool libraries are
A tool library operates like a book library, but for tools. Members can borrow tools (drills, saws, ladders, sewing machines, kitchen appliances, gardening equipment) for short periods. They’re typically run by volunteers, sometimes with paid coordinators, and funded by small membership fees and grants.
The model has been growing rapidly. Major cities now have established tool libraries, Edinburgh Tool Library, West London Tool Library, Berlin Werkzeugkooperative, and many smaller ones in towns and neighbourhoods.
How they typically work
The standard model:
- Annual membership: typically £15-50/year.
- Loan periods: 3-14 days, depending on tool and demand.
- Booking system: usually online, sometimes phone-based.
- Physical pickup: from the library’s premises during open hours.
- Returns: back to the library in the same condition.
- Late fees: nominal, to encourage timely returns.
Many libraries also offer:
- Workshops on how to use tools safely.
- Repair cafés where members fix broken items together.
- Demonstrations of unfamiliar equipment.
- Tool donation programmes (residents donate tools they no longer use).
What you can borrow
Typical tool library inventory:
- Power tools: drills, circular saws, jigsaws, sanders, planers, routers.
- Hand tools: hammers, screwdriver sets, wrenches, chisels.
- Garden tools: lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, spades.
- Specialty tools: tile cutters, pipe wrenches, paint sprayers.
- Kitchen appliances: food dehydrators, ice cream makers, large mixers.
- Sewing equipment: sewing machines, overlockers, cutting mats.
- Ladders and access equipment.
- Camping and outdoor gear: tents, sleeping bags, hiking equipment.
The financial case
The savings are real:
- A quality circular saw: £150 to buy; £5-10 weekend loan from library.
- A tile cutter: £60 to buy; £3-5 loan.
- A pressure washer: £100-200 to buy; £8-12 loan.
- A sewing machine: £100-300 to buy; £5-10 loan.
For occasional projects, the loan cost is dramatically less than ownership, and storage space is freed.
For a household with £30 annual membership and 8-10 loans per year, the savings vs. purchase typically reach £200-500.
The environmental case
The carbon and waste savings compound:
- One drill in a tool library can replace 20+ household drill purchases over its lifetime.
- Tools are professionally maintained, lasting longer than individual ownership equivalents.
- Less manufacturing demand reduces upstream emissions.
- Less disposal at end-of-life.
- Reduced household storage need (less furniture, less moving stuff around).
Tool libraries are one of the higher-use circular-economy interventions in their actual operation, not just in theory.
The social and skill benefits
Beyond financial and environmental, tool libraries provide:
- Access to skills training. Workshops on using power tools safely.
- Reduced barrier to DIY. People who wouldn’t buy a £150 saw will borrow one to try a project.
- Community connections. Members meet other DIY-interested neighbours.
- Repair culture. Repair cafés extend the life of household items.
- Inclusivity. Lower-income households can access tools they couldn’t afford to buy.
How to find existing tool libraries
Resources:
- Library of Things directory: the umbrella organisation in the UK with maps of member libraries.
- Sharing Cities Network: international network of sharing initiatives.
- Local council websites: some councils list community resources.
- Search “tool library” + your city/area.
If one exists within travel range, join. The annual membership pays back quickly.
How to start a tool library
If no tool library exists in your area, starting one is a viable community project. The realistic path:
Step 1: Find collaborators
Tool libraries are not solo projects. Find 5-10 people willing to invest time in setting up and running the library. Look in: existing maker spaces, community groups, environmental organisations, repair cafés.
Step 2: Identify physical space
The space requirements:
- Storage for tools (typically 20-50 m² depending on inventory size).
- Accessibility for members.
- Security against theft.
- Space for occasional workshops.
Options: rented commercial space, shared space with another community organisation, donated space from a sympathetic business or council, repurposed shop unit.
Step 3: Establish governance
Set up as either:
- A community interest company (CIC).
- A cooperative.
- A charity.
- A community benefit society.
Each has different implications for liability, tax, and governance. The local Cooperatives UK office or council’s community development team can advise.
Step 4: Build initial inventory
Sources for initial tools:
- Donations from local residents (run a “tool amnesty” event).
- Crowdfunding for specific high-value tools.
- Grants from environmental and community funding bodies.
- Donations from local businesses (DIY stores, hardware shops).
- Second-hand purchases from auctions and online marketplaces.
Step 5: Set up booking and lending systems
Use existing software (some libraries use myTurn, others use bespoke systems) rather than building from scratch. The Library of Things shares software and processes between member organisations.
Step 6: Launch
Soft-launch with founding members, gather feedback, iterate. Public launch with local media coverage to build membership. Expect 6-18 months from first meeting to operational launch.
Related: Block-Level Rainwater Projects: Working at Building Scale
The funding question
Most successful tool libraries combine multiple funding sources:
- Membership fees: typically 30-50 percent of revenue.
- Loan fees: 10-25 percent.
- Grants: 20-40 percent (community foundations, council grants, environmental funds).
- Donations: 5-15 percent.
- Workshop fees: 5-10 percent.
Most libraries operate on small budgets (£10,000-50,000/year) with mostly volunteer labour. Larger libraries with paid coordinators have correspondingly higher budgets.
Related: Joining a Community Solar Cooperative
The two-year arc
The typical timeline for a new tool library:
- Months 1-6: formation, space-finding, governance setup.
- Months 7-12: initial inventory, soft launch, member building.
- Year 2: growth, inventory expansion, workshop programmes.
- Year 3+: stable operation, possibly satellite locations.
Related: Starting a Building Sustainability Newsletter
How the shared arrangement works
| Key point | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Annual membership | typically £15-50/year. |
| Loan periods | 3-14 days, depending on tool and demand. |
| Booking system | usually online, sometimes phone-based. |
| Physical pickup | from the library’s premises during open hours. |
| Returns | back to the library in the same condition. |
The honest assessment
Tool libraries are one of the clearer wins of the sharing economy: real financial savings, real environmental benefit, real community value. The barrier is the upfront organising work, starting one is a multi-year commitment.
For users, joining an existing tool library is essentially pure benefit. For organisers, starting a new one is significant work but creates a lasting community asset that benefits hundreds or thousands of households for decades.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
For households that do occasional DIY (3-10 projects per year), typically £200-500/year saved vs. purchase. Plus the storage space saved.
Usually yes, libraries invest in durable professional-grade tools because they get heavy use. Often higher quality than typical household ownership.
Most libraries have clear policies: minor damage covered by membership; significant damage or loss results in replacement costs. Most damage is minor and the system absorbs it.
Start small with donated tools and free or low-cost space. Many successful libraries began with £500-2,000 of initial investment, growing through grants and membership fees.
