FAQ
What is the Brisbane Tool Library?
The Brisbane Tool library is a social enterprise started in 2017 based on the model of other tool libraries all around the world. Members pay an annual fee to borrow any item from our inventory, including hand and power tools, camping gear, gardening equipment, as well as a mix of recreational and household items. Almost all our items are either rescued from landfill or donated by the community, then repaired and/or maintained. We are committed to making the library a diverse and safe space and welcome all borrowers.
Who is welcome?
We are committed to making the library a diverse and safe space for all. In terms of skill level, we want to particularly support people with very little experience or confidence in using hardware and power tools, or camping equipment.
How much is membership?
Membership prices can be found here.
Memberships
Can organisations be members?
Yes organisations can be members, please email us at staff@brisbanetoollibrary.org
What if I can’t afford membership?
We’ve tried our best to keep membership affordable and also offer a concession membership. Nevertheless, we realise that the annual concession membership can still be a barrier. Please, if you face financial challenges, contact us at staff@brisbanetoollibrary.org
Can I buy a gift membership?
You can certainly buy a gift membership, find more details here.
How do I renew my membership?
You can renew your membership online via MyTurn software, or ring us during our opening hours. You can find our opening hours here.
Borrowing / Loans
How long can an item be borrowed for?
An item can be borrowed for up to two weeks, and can be extended for another week if it hasn’t been reserved. Please check memberships' details.
How many items can I borrow?
Please check memberships' details. Items to be borrowed per loan go from 4 to 10 items.
Can I extend my loans online?
Yes, you can extend your loan through your membership account online, or by emailing us at staff@brisbanetoollibrary.org
What if I don’t return the borrowed item on time?
A daily fee applies to each overdue item. You can see the current daily overdue fees in your account. This can be paid when you return the overdue items, or alternatively it can charged to your Brisbane Tool Library account. You cannot borrow any more items until the overdue fee has been paid.
Does the library deliver library items?
Sorry, we are not set up to deliver.
How do I reserve items? I’m going camping in a couple of months. How can I make sure that the items I want to take are available?
You can reserve items by accessing your member portal. If you are having difficulty working with our online system, you can also email us at staff@brisbanetoollibrary.org or come in during opening hours to browse.
Location / Opening hours
Where are you located?
Gate C, 221D MacArthur Ave, Hamilton QLD 4009. More information can be found here.
When is the library open?
Our opening hours are:
Wednesday 1 pm - 4.30 pm
Friday 1 pm - 4.30 pm
Saturday 9 am - 1pm
Can I park at the Brisbane Tool Library?
Yes, we have plenty of car park.
Miscellaneous
Does the library accept e-waste?
We don’t accept e-waste. We also don’t accept broken electronic items unless they require a minor non-electronic repair.
Does the library take broken items?
We ONLY take broken items that would be a good addition to the library, if they can be easily repaired by us. Ask us about donating your broken item if you are not sure. Email us at staff@brisbanetoollibrary.org
Do you accept financial donations?
We accept financial donations. Unfortunately we do not have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status which means that your donation to us is not tax deductible.
Can I volunteer?
We are all volunteers! Please let us know if you have a specialist skill that we might be able to use such as furniture making or graphic design etc. Otherwise there are plenty of jobs that can be easily learned - like cleaning tools, adding tools to our inventory, administrative tasks, and representing the library at festivals and events. If you have a vehicle and can help us pick up tools from donors let us know.
Can I sponsor the library?
You sure can. Please contact us by email here and we will discuss sponsorship possibilities further.
If I know a space that would make a good tool library, are you interested in hearing about it?
Yes, please, get in touch.
Do you run workshops?
We run workshops throughout the year to help people make, service, repair, and upcycle with our tools. Individual workshops are pitched at different skill levels (from basic to advanced). We also host workshops in keeping with our reuse/live lightly ethos, such as bees wax wraps making, and working with recovered timber, and making supermarket (boomerang) bags.