As promised, we are now ready to roll out our very first community-driven, Tool of the Month fundraiser!
There are two steps to each tool of the month fundraiser. First, we ask you to vote on the tool you’d like us to fundraise for. After voting closes, fundraising begins! All money raised over the next six weeks, both in the shop and through online donations, goes towards the purchase of the tool that received the most votes. At the end of the fundraising period, we start over again with new tools!
On the roster this month are three tools that our committee has identified as being in high demand by our members. Read up on each of them below and then cast your vote by clicking here!
How to use a truing stand
Wheel Truing Stand: a tool used to straighten bicycle wheels, which consists of an axle stand on which thewheel can rotate and calipers to measure slight deviations of the wheel’s rim from ideal (“true”) alignment. We don’t currently have a wheel truing stand in our inventory.
Pneumatic/Air Nailer: pneumatic or air tools are tools driven by a gas, usually compressed air. An air nailer is used to drive nails into wood or other materials and are a convenient (and efficient) replacement for hammers on big jobs. We don’t currently have an air nailer.
Table Saw: We already have one table saw in our inventory, but given it’s popularity we are considering acquiring a second. A table saw consists of a circular saw blade that is driven by an electric motor. The blade protrudes through the surface of a table, which provides support for the material being cut (usually wood).
Don’t forget to cast your vote, and stay tuned for results (and the start of fundraising) in about two weeks.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, October 19th, 2011 | No Comments »
It seems that fall has officially descended upon Vancouver. Despite the rain, though, we’ve been busy around the shop, training volunteers and working on getting a new inventory system up and running (more on that very soon!).
In the meantime though, we’re honoured to share with you that we’ve made it into the contributors list in the Georgia Straight’s Best of Vancouver 2011, out this week! Check us out in the “Best of: City Life” section. And keep your eye out for the mention of our little up-and-coming block of Commercial Street, the “Block Most Worthy of Revitalization.”
Pick up a free copy of The Straight this week or check out the article online here.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, September 23rd, 2011 | No Comments »
This is a short note to let you know that we are doing some research aimed to help us streamline our organization’s current operations and make decisions about how to grow in the future. Over the next month, we’re aiming to engage with VTL members, non-members, and the general public to learn about their values, their tools and skills, and what they would like the VTL to offer.
One of our avenues for doing so is this short survey that we’d really appreciate you filling out! The survey will take about ten minutes to complete. Please also consider passing it on to your friends and networks so that we can reach a wide range of people.
With a huge thanks for taking some time to help make us awesome,
– The VTL
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October 4th updade: thanks for all your responses! We have now closed the survey and are busy analyzing the responses. If you missed your chance to complete the survey but still have comments you’d like to share with us, please send them to info@vancouvertoollibrary.com . We’re always happy to hear from you!
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, August 25th, 2011 | No Comments »
As an organization with a mandate to educate our members about tool use, we are eager to start developing a workshop series to do just that. We’re seeking someone to spearhead this in the role of Workshops and Events Officer. This is a volunteer position that requires approximately six hours per week to develop, schedule, and promote VTL workshops, as well as attend bi-weekly board meetings.
Take a look at thefull position description hereand get in touch with us at president@vancouvertoollibrary.com if you have any questions or to apply for the position. Applications are due by September 15th!
Please help us find someone for the position by sharing this with your networks.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, August 17th, 2011 | No Comments »
The Vancouver Tool Library officially opened last week, on July 17th, 2011. After all the work we’ve put into the VTL since last fall, to have finally reached this day is pretty exciting for all of us Board Members and (we’re pretty sure!) all our members thus far. We had an awesome time celebrating the big day – welcoming members into the shop, sharing music, workshops, and a BBQ lunch, and of course loaning out our first tools!
Despite the absolutely crazy weather, we had a great turnout. Lucky we had our back patio tarped for the planter box building workshop, and the sun cleared up by the time it was assembled and ready to have soil and flowers put in!
The BBQ lunch and the amazing, talented Carnival Band kept us warm and happy while the skies poured down on us. A huge thanks to all the musicians from the Carnival Band who came out to play at the event. We were so lucky to have them!
Back inside the shop, our very first tool was borrowed! Pretty exciting. Kevin needed a stud finder to install some bike racks at his house. Now that we are officially open, you can come down to the shop on Tuesdays (4-8pm), Thursdays (4-8pm), Saturdays (10am-3pm), or Sundays (10am-3pm) to borrow tools. The loan period for all tools is three days, and late fines are $2/day for hand tools or $5/day for power tools. If you’re not a member yet, you can sign up online before you stop in at the shop, or do so in person with cash, cheque or credit card at the shop.
Thanks to everyone who made it down to the event last weekend. It was a pleasure meeting and celebrating with you all. We also owe a huge thank you to our event sponsors: Choices Markets and Discovery Organics for supporting out BBQ, and Habitat for Humanity Re-Store and Figaro’s Garden for sponsoring our workshops! Check out all the other organizations who have helped us launch the Vancouver Tool Library, on the supporters page and… see you in the shop!
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, July 23rd, 2011 | No Comments »
