Press release:

The well-known magazine/website Popular Mechanics, which is devoted to everything from DIY home tips, gadget news, test drives of new cars and science breakthroughs, featured the West Seattle Tool Library in its “10 Ways to Change the World” story.

“Pretty much whenever you explain the concept of a tool library to someone who isn’t familiar with the idea, they respond with ‘wow, that’s a great idea,’” said Patrick Dunn, West Seattle Tool Library Director. “I think that’s why it’s getting so much interest.”

The idea is a simple one. Collect some tools that might just be gathering dust in local basements or garages and then allow neighbors to have easy access to them. As The West Seattle Tool Library can attest, these formerly unappreciated tools then tend to spring to life. They're loaned out as-needed for home projects or sometimes borrowed in-bulk for community projects. They can even help reinforce a community's disaster preparedness.

About a year after starting off with that very simple idea, The Tool Library now has over 300 members and 1,300 active tools. It also just recently opened a fully equipped, community workshop at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where neighbors can congregate to share their skills, stories, and even more tools.

About Sustainable West Seattle
Sustainable West Seattle is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that educates and advocates for urban sustainability in our local community.

About the West Seattle Tool Library
The West Seattle Tool Library is a community-led project to provide pay-what-you-can community access to a wide range of tools, training, workshop space and relevant advice. The West Seattle Tool Library is a project of Sustainable West Seattle and was made possible by a neighborhood grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.