Australia's first public tool library opens in Brisbane and instead of books and magazines, library members borrow power tools, lawnmowers and whipper snippers.
  • ZagorathOPEnglish
    5•11 months ago

    Personally I think these are an awesome idea, but I think the inconvenience of the location is going to make it a hard sell. If every Council library had a good stash of tools that could be borrowed (even for a fee, like the Brisbane Tool Library has) it would be awesome. But needing to travel all the way into the CBD to the State Library is an awkward roadblock. I hope it can be enough of a success where it is to grow out into more locations.

    • anathema_device
      3•11 months ago

      @Zagorath Do you think maybe Men’s Sheds and similar could step up and provide local access? The trouble with lawn mowers though is that they need to be maintained, and they use consumables.

      Tool libraries are a brilliant idea though

      • ZagorathOPEnglish
        3•11 months ago

        Yeah, they probably could. I’d be wary of it because just by virtue of the name, women might be less likely to feel welcome using them if they’re in Men’s Sheds (even if the space itself is completely welcoming, the name is going to be offputting), but in principle it could work.

        The trouble with lawn mowers though is that they need to be maintained

        I don’t think that’s an issue at all. The existing Brisbane Tool Library isn’t free, and presumably that access fee in part goes towards maintenance.

        and they use consumables

        Electric mowers don’t! And for most people renting something for their personal home use, an electric mower is probably a much better option.

        If it does run on fuel though, I’m sure a solution could be found pretty easily. It’s already been figured out for car rentals for decades, after all.

        • anathema_device
          2•11 months ago

          @Zagorath There are a few women’s sheds starting up too. But the libraries are a good gender-neutral space. Council nurseries could be another outlet.