Soft jazz music flows through a quaint, homey tool shed on 47th Street. A faint woody scent clings to the air, and warm lights illuminative reflective metal. A bicycle hangs precariously from the ceiling and a colorful array of plastic, wood, paper, and more line the walls. It may seem modest at first glance, but slipped between each saw and screwdriver are quiet yet moving snapshots of community.
The West Philly Tool Library has been bridging gaps in accessibility and convenience since 2007, lending out a variety of common and odd tools to the community while also hosting specialized, beginner–friendly carpentry and craft classes on the side. Its membership requires dues based on annual income, ensuring affordability for all participants. More than just a humble tool inventory, it’s become an irreplaceable resource for people from all corners of the city.
“We wanted to not only give people the tools, the physical tools, but also the skills to do what they needed to do,” Executive Director Jason Sanders says. Amassing over 1,300 members and 5,000 tools over the years, the WPTL traces its roots back to a passion project aimed at addressing a need often overlooked: access to tools and the know–how to use them. It’s also a founding contributor to the national Tool Library Alliance.
In the United States, the concept of tool libraries first emerged in the 20th century, and the number of established libraries across the country grew steadily in the 2010s. They carry simple hand and complex power tools, equipment for the home, and even craftier items such as sewing or knitting kits. Not only are they areas of collaboration and a hub of activity for those who share a love or need for tools, they also function as educational avenues for the broader community. Knowing the right way to grasp a wrench or operate a drill can go a long way.
On one drafty October evening, WPTL hosts a date night where attendees gather to learn the basics of building and maintaining their very own charcuterie boards. The instructor, hailing from Alaska, lacks any formal training, but leads the room of people through the process of designing and crafting their pieces.
“We lost our home in the fires in California this January,” one couple says. Their move to Philadelphia inspired them to improve their practical skills.
“I’m definitely interested in learning more crafts … and [WPTL] seems really well-regarded in the community,” says another attendee. The tool library brings together newcomers and long–time residents through a collective curiosity.
“It’s about bringing people together … for silly things, every day,” Sanders says. From a busy parent reluctant to buy a full tool set for a DIY porch revamp to a college student struggling with loose screws in her desk, the library is open to anyone, regardless of socioeconomic background or skillset. During a time when tool waste management is a real environmental concern, the WPTL effectively works to mitigate the harms of overconsumption and improper waste disposal. Rather than paying for items that will most likely be used once and then forgotten, people can go to the more sustainable and affordable tool library.
“Everybody wants to hang a picture on the wall. Everybody wants to repaint something,” Sanders says. As Philadelphians juggles rising costs of living and shifting political climates, it is places like the WPTL that become safety nets for residents.
But as a nonprofit dependent on volunteers and membership funds, the WPTL has met obstacles like relocations and an unrenewed lease that may threaten the future of the organization. An Instagram post earlier this month asked for donations and support from the community, reaching thousands of users and garnering support from loyal members dedicated to keeping the tool library afloat. With the aim of remaining close to their current location, the WPTL hopes to retain members and remain an accessible asset for those who need it most.
“It’s certainly not a unique thing to Philly, but there’s a lot of older houses that need a lot of repairs and need a lot of maintenance,” Sanders says. “And I feel like this place is really the thing that helps them do that and provides affordable access.”
Describing the library in one word, Sanders speaks without hesitation. “It’s a place of community,” he says. Community is at the center of the West Philly Tool Library, from maintaining the foundations of West Philly homes to connecting neighbors. And perhaps the true secret to the library’s success is just that: in every shared tool lies a heartfelt story, a piece of home.
The WPTL will begin relocating in November, and is currently running various fundraising events while open to additional donations or member interest and support. Consider exploring their various resources and ways to get involved here.
