From left: Harrisburg Director of Communications Mischelle Moyer, Pennsylvania representative Nate Davidson, and one of the Harrisburg Tool Library founding members, Kate Lally, pose with a $25,000 check for the library’s startup.
The Harrisburg Tool Library is getting $25,000 in seed money.
State Rep. Nate Davidson presented the money — a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development — to one of the tool library’s founding board members, Kate Lally, at a ceremony Wednesday morning.
“To borrow a line from a neighbor of mine, Harrisburg deserves nice things, and this is one of those nice things,” said Davidson.
A Midtown resident, and neighbor of Lally’s, Davidson personally helped connect the library with the grant opportunity.
“Tool libraries around the United States, Canada and other nations across the world, have proven to be immensely valuable,” he continued. “They save residents hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of time. And not only that, they strengthen community bonds.”
Lally said the money will go toward a computer and a checkout system for the nonprofit as well as tools the library can’t receive via donation.
“We’re hoping for a 27-foot ladder,” she said, providing an example. “I want a safe, new one to share with our neighbors.”
She said the library is talking to the community right now about what other tools would be useful.
“There are some limitations to the grant,” Davidson said. “They have to use the money for mostly physical things, as opposed to staff.”
Lally said the Tool Library hopes to open at 1314 N. 3rd St. in Midtown Harrisburg in January. Right now, the organization is receiving donations from community members. Some tools it has received so far include a garden weasel (used to harvest acorns), a button maker, a cider press, two drill presses, two miter saws and multiple hand sanders.
It held its first community open house in October, offering interested community members a tour of the space and a chance to sign up for memberships. The library plans to offer sliding-scale memberships, ranging from $0 to 100 per month.
Tool Library members will have access to the organization’s collection of tools and high-cost equipment for projects, home repairs, gardening and creative work.
Lally said the library hopes to eventually offer classes, too.
“Things like drywall repair–things that are based on industry, but based on helping people in their own homes fix their own homes without having to pay for somebody else to do it,” she said.
Attending the ceremony on behalf of Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, the city’s director of communications Mischelle Moyer emphasized the importance of Harrisburg residents having access to a full tool library.
“When we talk about revitalizing Harrisburg, we often focus on the bigger projects–major developments, new housing and infrastructure,” Moyer said. “But this, right here, is where the revitalization begins. It begins when neighbors have the means to improve what they already have.”
According to the Tool Library’s site, early members and sponsors of the library provided the money for its security deposit, first few months of rent, insurance and initial renovations.
For more information on the Harrisburg Tool Library, visit its website.
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