A new library in the city is helping residents start a new project — or finish one that might be easier to tackle with the help of the perfect tool.
The Near South Tool Library is as simple as it sounds: Show up, sign in, get a tool and you’re on your way. It’s free for all Lincoln residents, which differs from tool libraries in other cities.
A tool library can be helpful for all, but especially first-time homebuyers or people who have recently moved into a new apartment and have had numerous financial obligations as a result of the move.
“It’s been neat to see people get comfortable in a new home more quickly because of the tool library,” organizer Brent Lucke said.
Brent Lucke, a community builder with NeighborWorks, helped start a tool loan library at First-Plymouth Congregational Church's Hope House. People can borrow tools for free at the library, which is open five days a week.
The library has been open for three months. Initially open twice a week there’s now enough volunteers to be open five days: Monday (2-4 p.m.); Tuesday (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.); Wednesday (2-4 p.m.); Friday (5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
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The tool library, at 2045 E St., is on the property of First-Plymouth Congregational Church. It’s a quiet pocket of the city, but also with plenty of signs of activity, including this week when high school athletes trained nearby at Lincoln High School and childcare students circled the block with their teachers.
The library was the vision of Lucke, who works as community builder with NeighborWorks Lincoln, and Emily Trauernicht, a teacher and community builder with Lincoln Public Schools. Trauernicht had seen tool libraries be successful in other cities.
“I’d been listening to some podcasts that were talking about different ways that we can assemble what we have in our neighborhoods to make life easier for everyone and build better social connections,” Lucke said. “And one of the ideas that came up was that a lot of people have collections of tools sitting in their garages gathering dust that they use maybe once every few years that really we’d all be better off if we just shared.”
After an initial location for the library didn’t work out, Lucke asked Juan Carlos Huertas at First-Plymouth if he knew of anyone in the neighborhood who might have a garage that could be used. The minister had a better idea: use the basement of the Hope House on the church’s property.
All of the power tools and hand tools have been donated. There’s a small wood chipper to make mulch. An easy-to-operate rototiller has been a popular item. This week a tool that helps pick up acorns was donated.
The library runs with the help of 12 volunteers. Volunteers also designed computer programs for the library, and through the project’s website (lincolntoollibrary.org) you can see what tools are available.
For volunteer Roger Reynolds the tool library has been a great fit for him to help the community. He’s a retired general contractor, so he’s familiar with all of the tools and can offer advice when needed. There’s also a section with take-and-keep items, such as screws and brackets.
The Near South Tool Library has a number of tools that can be loaned out, including drills, saws and rakes.
“It’s fun to see the first-time homebuyers where they don’t have all of the tools and they can come in for some garden tools or yard tools,” Reynolds said. “It’s fun to see them get their home fixed up.”
Reynolds is a member of the church, but not all volunteers are and anyone is welcome to use the library.
“They want to be a good neighbor,” Reynolds said of the congregation. “They’ve been here for nearly 100 years in this location.”
This is likely the first tool library of its kind in Lincoln. Lucke hopes other neighborhoods will organize one, and he’d like to share his expertise with leaders in starting one.
Through his previous work in the neighborhood Lucke had witnessed that there might be some projects that could be completed with access to tools, such as a car in an alley or something temporarily repaired on a house that needed a tool for permanent fix.
Some residents of the neighborhood have been able to fix things their landlord hasn’t gotten to. Others have started gardens.
“Seeing the neighborhood take ownership of this has been awesome. That’s been the big reward,” Lucke said.
The Bright Side: Meet people making a difference in our community
The Lincoln Journal Star wants to highlight people who uplift and inspire, who make our community brighter, and whose stories deserves to be told. Email ideas to citydesk@journalstar.com.
The Lincoln Journal Star wants to highlight people who uplift and inspire, who make our community brighter, and whose stories deserves to be told.
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