COLUMBUS, Ohio — You may associate libraries with books, but one nonprofit has another use for it.
Modcon Living’s Tool-lending Library helps lend people in need of house or yard work the tools they need, and it operates much like a library.
What You Need To Know
- Modcon Living’s Tool-lending Library helps the community borrow tools for house or yard work
- It’s only one of 60 tool libraries in the US
- Longtime member Betty Crafter shares the difference it’s made on her dream home
Betty Crafter has been a member for 20 years. She would borrow tools from the library to help transform her home over time.
“We bought this house about 20 years ago,” Crafter said. “It was completely vacant. We had to rehab it completely. There was no landscaping or anything.”
The nonprofit’s tool library is only one of 60 across the country, according to Modcon Living.
Similar to a library, it’s a way for members like Crafter to check out the supplies they need for home projects. Most memberships start at $15 for 30 days or $50 for the year with discounts for students, seniors and others.
“If you think about it, if I had to go out and rent these tools or purchase these tools, that would be a hefty price to pay,” said Crafter. “And so, I’ve literally saved thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars just being able to go and say, ‘Hey, can I borrow?’”
The Tool Library gives her more than the resources she needs. It also brings her a sense of accomplishment, making her dream home a reality one project at a time.
“I will never sell this house,” said Crafter. “I’ve already told my children that when I pass it down to them, they, in my will, are not allowed to sell it. The most you can do is keep it maintained and possibly rent it out. That’s it.”
Modcon Living’s Tool Library started in 1976 by the city of Columbus, making it one of the first in the nation.
