Asheville Tool Library finds home on South Slope, is set to open in April

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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asheville_tool_library_1_2016The Asheville Tool Library has found a home at 133 Church St. on the city’s South Slope and is planning to open in April, according to the tool library’s newsletter. The key collaborators on the project have changed, but are now Nick Letts, Ben Harper and Kara Sweeney. See more detail below.

There’s a public meeting set for 5 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Asheville Tool Library for anyone interested in learning more. The idea is to allow patrons to borrow tools and instructional materials.

Here’s the Asheville Tool Library newsletter:

While you’ve been calling all your contacts trying to find a weed-eater to borrow, we’ve been calling all our contacts trying to find a space to rent. And we succeeded! And, starting April 9, we will have weed-eaters for you, too.

We couldn’t be more pleased to have finally found a home on the South Slope amongst other locally owned, DIY, creative startup businesses.

We’ve been hard at work organizing and cataloging our library in Open Space AVL’s new building at 133 Church St. Our partnership with Open Space AVL, a new co-working space, is very fitting as we both are in the business of fostering community, creativity, and knowledge sharing.

Check out our progress in the links below. Parts of our website are still under construction so check back for more info in the coming weeks.

More on the ATL team:

The core collaborators have changed over time, so we want to introduce ourselves to all you supporters.

Nick Letts was involved in a tool library in Missoula, Montana in 2007. When he connected with folks in Asheville during a permaculture training, they decided to work together to create a tool library in Asheville. Nick has been consistently working since 2012 to make the Asheville Tool Library a reality, keeping the community and excitement alive.

Ben Harper became involved in Asheville Tool Library through founder, Tom Llewellyn. They founded the REAL Cooperative together and traveled with the Sustainable Living Roadshow. Ben’s social activism combined with design and building skills makes him a perfect match for the Tool Library. Ben has designed and built the Tool Library space, as well as connected with local businesses and individuals to create a supportive network in Asheville.

Kara Sweeney is the most recent addition to Asheville Tool Library. An outdoor enthusiast and home rehabilitator, Kara is committed to making the tool library accessible to a wide variety of residents. Through organizing volunteers and reaching out to residents of WNC, she pushes onwards toward the goals of the founders.

Please feel free to contact us with questions, concerns, or random outbursts.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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3 Comments

  1. Doug Cegelis February 12, 2016

    This definitely strikes me as a business that wouldn’t necessarily need to pay the likely higher rent for a South Slope location. A similar idea failed on Patton Avenue a few years ago, and Asheville Hardware, currently in the South Slope, learned this lesson when they originally opened in the building currently occupied by Wicked Weed. I wish them well regardless.

    Reply
    1. Nate February 15, 2016

      You realize this is a non-profit, not a “business,” right? I’m sure they’d be willing to locate anywhere someone is willing to carve out sufficient space and offer them a good deal.

      Reply
  2. Kimboronni February 12, 2016

    Finally! This will be a great resource for those of us with limited tool storage space who have a one-time or specific need but no budget. I look forward to considerate library use!

    Reply

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