Local chef and writer Ari Miller during a live cooking demonstration with the new cooktops at the West Philly Tool Library on Friday, Feb. 7.

The West Philly Tool Library has just received a generous donation from PennEnvironment, a non-profit organization that advocates for clean air, water and energy in the state of Pennsylvania. PennEnvironment donated two induction cooktops that will be offered for community use through the tool library’s membership program.

Induction stoves are a more sustainable alternative to traditional gas ranges because they don’t rely on methane, a greenhouse gas that’s considered much more potent than carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming. At the same time, induction appliances can be up to three times as efficient as their gas counterparts, and 10 percent more efficient than electric appliances. This efficiency can lead to potential long-term energy savings on utility bills and faster cooking times.

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The West Philly Tool Library Fall sale returns Saturday, Oct. 14. It will feature a “ton of cool tools” available for a bargain. Community members are invited to bring friends and family to discover all kinds of tools at low prices. You do not need to be a member to access the sale. Cash, credit card and other forms of payment are accepted.

The sale will kick off at 9 a.m. (see the flyer for more details). In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled (check out the Tool Library’s Facebook page for updates).

The West Philly Tool Library is also offering volunteer opportunities. They’re always looking for local people who love tools, to assist in our various cataloging and repair work as well as supporting fun events like their tool sales. Fill out this form and they will get in touch with you.

And last but not least, the Tool Library has also been offering various workshops for community members. Their next workshop, Electrical 102, which is part of the Tiny Model Home series, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21. There will be two sessions, and registration for both is still open. More info about this and other workshops is available here.

The West Philly Tool Library, which boasts a massive selection of tools for house and yard/garden maintenance, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a party for the whole community! This fundraising event will be held on Saturday, May 20 from 4-7 p.m. and will include food, drinks, games for all ages, raffles with prizes, and more.

To mark the anniversary, the Tool Library is also inviting its past and present members to share their favorite or impressive projects that were done using tools from the library. The most interesting or most community-minded projects will receive special awards, such as free Tool Library memberships, T-shirts, and more. Submissions are accepted until Thursday, May 18, at 12 p.m. Go here for more information and to fill out a submission form. Continue Reading

Just in time for the spring and summer season when many folks may need to purchase home and garden tools, the West Philadelphia Tool Library is holding a Spring Tool Sale. The event will take place on Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tool Library’s location at 1314 S. 47th St.

The sale will feature some great deals, plus this is a great opportunity to support a 14-year-old local non-profit. The sale is open to everyone (you don’t need to be a member).

The West Philly Tool Library was founded in 2007 with a goal to lend tools to community members. Since its founding, the organization has expanded its inventory to over 4,000 tools and has welcomed over 2,600 members. To learn more about membership at the West Philly Tool Library, go here. Continue Reading

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The West Philly Tool Library has been loaning tools to community members for over a decade. A few months ago, the non-profit organization started offering low-cost workshops for those who want to learn home care or improvement skills, or who want more knowledge before working with contractors.

Classes are open to members of the Tool Library and non-members, and are filling up quickly. Some of the upcoming classes, like Plumbing 102 and Home Electric 101, have already been sold out for this and next month, but more classes are on the way (check out the flyer). If you want your bike ready for Spring, check out the bike maintenance and repair class, which will be held on Saturday, April 6.  Continue Reading

Screen shot from the video below that was produced by the Philo Project.

Need a rake? A wrench? Some pliers? Maybe a gas-powered lawn care tool to call your very own? You’re in luck because this Saturday (Nov. 22) is the West Philly Tool Library‘s semi-annual Fall Tool Sale and Drive.

The sale is a chance to get in on some great tool buys as they thin out the inventory a little and raises some much need cash. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Tool Library, 1314 S. 47th.

Tax deductible donations are also encouraged and coffee and refreshments will be provided.

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with the West Philly Tool Library and want to join, here’s a little video you should watch: