Building a Tool Library in Los Angeles

Income inequality

Central LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

In a city where square footage is at a premium and amid an economic downturn, many Angelenos struggle to acquire and store quality tools—yet these are essential for maintaining and improving both personal and shared spaces and belongings (imagine needing a ladder to fix a light but nowhere to keep it in an apartment). At the same time, traditional neighbor-to-neighbor tool sharing has declined due to social isolation, and a culture of individual ownership and planned obsolescence discourages repair and maintenance, leading to unnecessary duplication of tools and waste. Affordable workshop spaces are scarce, and hands-on skill-building classes often come with prohibitive fees. Together, these obstacles keep people from repairing, building, connecting, and collaborating locally, resulting in wasted resources and weaker community ties.

The LA Tool Library will create a community space and shared workspace to eliminate barriers to tool access, skills, and community connections. We will maintain an inventory of high-quality, regularly serviced tools at the tool library. Memberships will be affordable with sliding scale and subsidized options to ensure inclusivity. Through outreach online and at local events, like farmers markets and relevant community fairs, we’ll recruit members, raise awareness of the workshop and class offerings, and spread the sharing and repair economy principles.
The Tool Library will host community gatherings, peer meetups, and community build & maintain days (e.g., free small libraries, community pantries). Monthly workshops, priced affordably and shaped by member input, will cover essential skills like tool basics, home repair, sewing, woodworking as well as creative crafting classes. “Open Shop” hours will grant members access to tools and workspace for projects beyond their home capacity. We will have dedicated programming and spaces for underrepresented groups in trades and makerspaces (e.g., trans, nonbinary, women).
By emphasizing repair and maintenance, we instill sustainable practices and confidence in their ability that members can apply elsewhere in life. We will also partner with organizations like Compton Tool Library and Bike Oven to share resources, exchange best practices, and host joint events, expanding LA's solidarity network.

If the LA Tool Library succeeds, Angelenos will become more aware of—and receptive to—sharing, repairing, and the solidarity economy. As neighbors borrow tools, learn through hands-on workshops and from peers, and work side by side on shared projects, social connections will deepen, creating a stronger sense of community and belonging. With affordable and inclusive access to quality equipment and training, community members will gain confidence to maintain personal possessions, upkeep their homes and contribute to a more resilient built environment. Craft makers and microentrepreneurs will thrive, launching or expanding small local businesses using shared resources. Our model will inspire other libraries of things and strengthen a countywide solidarity network, advancing sustainable, inclusive growth across Los Angeles.