By Lindsay Peyton

The Ballard Tool Library is now open and ready to help with projects of all shapes and sizes.

A grand opening celebration was held on Sunday, March 11 at the Tool Library, 7549B NW 15th Ave.

Jenny Heins, board president of Sustainable Ballard, the nonprofit organization that is creating the tool library, said area residents have already started stopping by to borrow hammers, shovels and saws.

“We already have a couple of regulars who come in every Sunday,” she said. “We want more of that.”

A mother and son came in for tools to build a hovercraft for a school project. A young man bought a subscription for his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day.

It’s just like a regular library, but instead of checking out novels, members can borrow a range of tools.

The Ballard Tool Library is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

To become a member, join Sustainable Ballard for $35 per individual or $60 for a household.

“The tools library is one of your benefits,” Heins said.

The catalog is online. “You can see what we have and whether it’s available or not,” Heins said.

She added that there are all types of tools in the mix, including those used for crafts and gardening. “It’s not just shop tools,” she said. “It’s everything from a cider press to a cookie cutter.”

Sustainable Ballard is still collecting items for the library and has a wish list of tools posted for individuals interested in donating.

“We have a good collection of about 1,000 tools,” she said. “We have a couple of sewing machines, a juice and a dehydrator. We have stuff for events like chairs and platters and a lot of gardening tools.”

The typical borrowing period lasts a week. The library asks the members donate $1 to $5 per tool when they loan one out. 

The library is partially funded through a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Membership fees make up the difference.

“The more members we get, the bigger we can get – and the more workshops and repair cafes we can offer,” Heins said.

The Ballard Tool Library has a temporary lease of its current location and is on the lookout for the next spot. “We’re already starting to run out of space,” Heins said.

She hopes to see the Tool Library expand its size and services. Already, there are plans to add a workspace inside the location and to host repair cafes in the library every third Thursday of the month.

Heins explained that the library will not only be a place to share tools – but will also serve as a classroom, allowing members to share in the expertise with others.

Jill Weidman, a volunteer with the tool library, has already connected with others in the neighborhood and learned more about handy work from the experience.

“I’m really glad to be a part of this,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a little more handy and a little more tools-y. I thought this would be a great way to learn a lot and get involved.”

Weidman has been busy cataloging all the tools the library has to offer. She believes the library will be a welcomed addition to the area.

“Ballard is such a unique neighborhood,” she said. “They have all of these wonderful skilled people, and people who are just moving into the neighborhood.”

Having a place where all can come together and help each other is practical, she added. “We’ve already had a good response,” Weidman said.

For more information, visit www.sustainableballard.org/ballard-tool-library. Follow the Ballard Tool Library on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardtoollibrary.