And learn how to use it there too.
Where to put things in a limited space is a big city problem. I grew up in the southwest U.S. with a dad whose two-car garage was filled with tools and a creative corner where he tied flies — you know lures for fishing, no insect was hurt in the process. There was no room for automobiles, they went in the driveway.
Because of my dad, I know may way around a toolbox, but power tools above a handheld drill I have avoided. Didn’t see much call for using them during the years my dad would have gladly taught me. Then after seeing what happened to Johnny Cash’s brother in the movie “Walk the Line” I figured I’d stay clear. However, there are times this lack of knowledge haunts me: when I look around my apartment and envision home improvements that need the more powerful power tools. It is also impractical for me to purchase them for the occasional project as there is no place in my apartment to store them.
When the Greenpoint Library launched their Tool Library last spring it was time to work up my courage. I’m still working on that.
“The Greenpoint Library Tool Library was created with the knowledge that repair and maintenance have a meaningful role to play in environmental and planetary health. Born out of Repair Hub, a Brooklyn Public Library Incubator project, Greenpoint Library’s Tool Library empowers patrons to borrow tools to work on home projects, repair their possessions, and learn new tool skills. In making tools accessible to the community, Brooklyn Public Library is promoting environmental responsibility, sustainability and equity for all,” states their website.
To help the community get more comfortable with using the more intimidating realm of hardware Greenpoint Library is hosting their first series of tool workshops. These workshops can only accommodate twelve participants on a first come first served basis. The workshops are open to adults and teens 14+ (if accompanied by a parent), and a liability waiver must be signed in order to participate.
Upcoming workshops are: March 8, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. the focus is on drills, impact drivers and hammer drills; on March 22, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. learn about power saws (circular saws, jigsaws, and reciprocating saws); and on April 5, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., get hands on with handheld rotary tools such as angle grinders and other multipurpose oscillating tools.
The first workshop in this series was held on February 15 and taught participants how to work with wood using orbital sanders and routers. It was led by educators and artists Derek Haffar and Jim Osman. Haffar is currently part time faculty at Parsons School of Design and adjunct professor at Pratt Institute. He has worked for several name artists as fabricator, assistant, for Mathew Barney, Red Grooms, Tom Otterness among others. His work for the Wildlife Conservation Society as an exhibit specialist has had a lasting impact on the way that his work is constructed as well as how industrial art practices impact the environment. Osman taught courses in three-dimensional design and sculpture at Parsons School of Design for 22 years. He has had solo exhibitions at McKenzie Fine Art, Robichon Gallery, Lesley Heller Workspace, Long Island University and Dartmouth College. His work has been included in group shows at the Brooklyn Museum, Equity Gallery and University of Texas at San Antonio.
Here are some of the rules for the Tool Library: Greenpoint Library is the only library where you can pick up and return tools locally; you can borrow up to three tools, including one power tool for one week; you place the tool(s) needed on hold with a valid Brooklyn Library card; you’ll be informed by email when the tool is ready for pick up; to pick up come to the library and show an I.D. with current address; you have seven days after being notified to pick up the tools, after that they will be put back into circulation; return your tool clean with all the components it came with; return it in person — do NOT drop in book drops; if a tool is not returned by fourteen days (and it should be returned by seven) it will be marked as missing, and a replacement fee will be assessed and added to the account — replacement fees depend on the cost of the tool to be replaced and will block the patron from borrowing, renewing, and making holds for other library materials in the interim. This fee will be removed from the account upon return of the tool. This is to ensure access of the tools to the community.
Greenpoint Library is located at 107 Norman Ave. at Leonard St. Brooklyn, NY 11222. For more info on the Tool Library: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/tool-library#faq
The Greenline 