Call for Weekend Volunteers @ the Ballard Tool Library

The Ballard Tool Library is going strong!  We have over 1,000 tools to lend, we’re open ten hours a week AND there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for our neighbors.  Our greatest need for volunteers is on Saturday mornings, 8:45am-10:15am and 10am-11:15am, and Sunday afternoons, 1:45pm-3:45pm and 3:30pm-5:15pm.  If you’d like to volunteer to help the Library stay open for all its posted hours, please contact JBHarmon(at)ballardtoollibrary.org.

Ballard Tool Library is an organization created for the community, by the community. We rely on volunteers for everything from spreading the word about us to helping keep our tools clean, organized and in working order.

Interested in volunteering? Stop by the Tool Library, hang out for a bit, ask questions. There, you can fill out our BTL volunteer application and waiver, learn about how you can make a big impact at BTL, and even start signing up for shifts!

Take a look at the volunteer positions available below, or email  ballardtoollibrary@gmail.com if you are interested in donating your talents in a different way.

Tool Librarian
Minimum 2hr/month suggested
Staff the Ballard Tool Library during our open hours. Duties include signing up new members, checking tools in and out, accepting and catalogueing tool donations, and being a warm and welcoming presence at the BTL.  We encourage tool librarians to sign up for at least one shift/month. General experience / knowledge of tools strongly encouraged but not required.
Tool Librarian shifts:
Sundays, 1:45pm – 3:45pm and 3:30pm – 5:15pm
Tuesdays, 10:45am – 1:15pm
Thursdays, 4:45pm – 6:45pm and 6:30pm – 8:15pm
Saturdays, 8:45am – 11:15am

Tool Maintenance Team Member
Minimum 2hr/month suggested
*Calling all volunteers with tool maintenance experience!* Many of our tools could use some TLC, and we’d love your help with monthly maintenance events. If you have experience keeping tools sharpened and maintained, this is the perfect opportunity for you. If you’re willing to help train other volunteers in the fine art of tool maintenance, even better! Beginners are welcome to help with basic cleaning and labeling of tools, although must attend a BTL maintenance training if interested in learning more in-depth upkeep methods.

Outreach Team
Minimum 2hr/month suggested
Can’t wait to tell everyone about the awesome Tool Library you just joined? Become a part of our outreach team! We’d love your help with anything from crafting perfect social media posts to posting flyers at downtown businesses. Outreach for our Grand Opening event is just ramping up, so join now to help spread the word and make this event a great success!

Repair Cafe Consultant
Minimum 2hr/month suggested
Do you have a skill you’d love to share? A knack for fixing items otherwise destined for the landfill? Sign up to be a repair consultant at our monthly drop-in BTL Repair Cafes– every third Thursday of the month from 6pm – 8pm. During the Repair Cafe, you will help community members fix their broken items, teach maintenance tips, and share your passion for fixing/creating with interested participants.

Workshop Leader
Would you like to share your passion for woodworking, embroidery, gardening, car maintenance, etc? Volunteer to lead a workshop at Ballard Tool Library! We can provide the tools, you provide the knowledge! Workshops are planned about a month in advance, and you will be working with our tool library manager or an experienced volunteer to plan and execute the event.

Tool Photographer
minimum 2hr/month suggested
We’ve worked hard to register hundreds of tools into our inventory software, but we know it’s much easier to browse with photos included. Volunteer a few hours of your time to take photos of our tools and add them to each tool’s online profile. No fancy equipment needed, digital camera or smartphone photos are fine!

Join our CraftsmanCorps!
CraftsmanCorps is our network of skill experts willing to answer questions about their areas of expertise. No time commitment is required, just a willingness to be a resource for BTL’s tough-to-answer questions.
You may choose between two levels of involvement.
Level 1
signs you up for emails from our tool library manager when he needs help identifying a donated tool or has a tough question from a member (for example: “Should I use stuffing or foam when filling and reupholstering this chair?” or “What’s the best screw or nail to use for this carpentry project?”)
Level 2
indicates that you would be willing to consult with members when they need a little extra help on a project. A member will share their needs with our tool library manager, who will then send a summary to Level 2 CraftsmanCorps members with expertise in that field. If you respond, you’ll be connected to the BTL member and can choose whether to consult over email or set up a meeting together at BTL. This is a great way to meet your Ballard neighbors and share your knowledge in a low-commitment way.

Contact:  JB Harmon; jbharmon(at)ballardtoollibrary.org