In response to requests for weekday hours, the Southeast Tool Library (SEPTL) has added Tuesday evening hours (5:30-7 pm) to their schedule, supplementing weekly Saturday hours (9 am-noon). The caveat is that with more open hours, they are in need of more volunteers to staff the tool library.
Located in Hinson Baptist Church, 1137 SE 20th Ave., SEPTL is a community resource that provides home/business owners and tenants with the hand and power tools they need to perform simple maintenance, tend yards and gardens and complete awesome projects. It’s also a way to meet and share with neighbors.
The tools available range from gardening to automotive, plumbing to ladders and much more. Great for those who need tools for specific, rather than ongoing projects, and more affordable than purchasing a new tool each time one is needed.
To utilize the tool library, people must live in the SE Uplift area, which encompasses neighborhoods from the Willamette River to 82nd Ave./I-205 and I-84 to Sellwood/Brentwood Darlington, be at least 18 years old and become a member.
Obtaining membership is easy–simply provide a photo ID, proof of address (driver’s license, recent utility bill, mortgage statement or similar) and pay a one-time, voluntary donation of $10-40. The donations are used to purchase and maintain tools for members.
Members may check out tools for two weeks at a time (an extension prompted by COVID-19). However, if you are done with the tools before the 14-day period, early returns are welcomed so the tools can be available to other patrons.
Those interested in helping out SEPTL by volunteering are encouraged to sign up for shifts as often as they can at . No special knowledge of tools is needed and first time volunteers are trained onsite during their shift. For people who prefer to work behind the scenes, help is also needed to repair tools, take tool photos, maintain the seed library, join the Board of Directors and more. Questions can be directed to volunteers@septl.org.
