Why is it important?
Resource Awareness
Not only do we want to increase accessibility to tools, we want to increase knowledge and awareness in our community. We hope to do so by providing you with various helpful resources related to our mission. To the right is a Table of Contents, which can take you down to each section of resources.
If you find any helpful resources that we are unaware of, please send us an email. You can do so at the link below.
Table of Contents
Other Seattle Tool Libraries
If the NE Seattle Tool Library is not convenient for you, we are happy to report that there are several tool libraries in other parts of Seattle!
Please send us an email if you hear about another tool library opening up in the Seattle area. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of Seattle-based tool libraries.
Other Nearby Tool Libraries
- South King Tool Library (Federal Way)
- Tacoma Tool Library
- Bellingham Tool Library
- Vashon Tool Library
- Island Makers Guild Library (Friday Harbor)
- The Tool Shed (Port Townsend)
If you aren’t located in Seattle and can’t make it over to the Shoreline Tool Library, we are also happy to say that there are many tool libraries nearby!
Please send us an email if you hear about another tool library opening up in the area. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of nearby tool libraries.
Maker Spaces
- Alt Space (Central District)
- Maker Pro (Capitol Hill)
- Pratt (Central District)
- MakerSpace (UW)
- IsGood WoodWorks (Industrial District)
- Gasworks Gallery (Wallingford)
- Bellingham Maker Space
- Seattle Made
Maker spaces often provide individuals with tools, classroom space, and community resources so that they have the space to comfortably collaborate. These are spaces where individuals are encouraged to express their interests as they come together and share the wealth of their knowledge and ideas.
Please send us an email if you hear about another maker space in the area. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of nearby maker spaces.
Tool Rentals
Tool rentals are a bit different from tool libraries, but they still help to serve the same purpose of keeping tools out of landfills and in the hands of those who aim to use them with purpose. There are a couple of places in the area where you can rent tools from.
Please send us an email if you hear about another organization specializing in tool rentals. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of nearby tool rentals.
Materials
Like tools going to waste, there is also a surplus of materials that can often flood the landfill. Fortunately, there are many businesses that aim to give forgotten materials a second life. These types of materials can be vintage, salvaged, or reclaimed, and range from furniture and appliances to tools and wood.
Please send us an email if you hear about another organization specializing in material reuse. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of nearby materials-based organizations.
Know How
These are organizations that help you learn different skills. We want to empower you with these resources, which hope to show you that you truly can Do It Yourself!
Please send us an email if you come across another organization specializing in teaching different skills. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of know-how organizations.
Energy & Environment
There are many ways to utilize energy and the environment in a way that does not degrade or hurt the environment. If you are interested in learning more about these different ideas, we encourage you to take a look.
Please send us an email if you come across another informational resource on energy and the environment. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of resources.
Starting a Tool Library
Although we feel quite special hearing people say that they “Wish they knew about tool libraries before and are grateful for finding the tool library”, we hope for that not to be the case in the future. We want to normalize libraries of all different kinds, so hopefully some of these resources are helpful.
We want to grow this list of resources, so please send us an email if you come across another helpful resource for starting a tool library or a sharing economy of any kind. This means any organization that increases access to resources by turning items into shared commodities. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of resources.
Recycle/Disposal
- Buy Nothing
- Freecycle
- City of Seattle Office of Environment
- Bike Works (Columbia City)
- Computer/Electronics (Wallingford)
- Batteries
- King County Household Hazardous Waste
- Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station (styrofoam, bicycle parts, metal)
- Sustainable Cinema
When the time does come that a certain material or resource is no longer usable, it is important to properly recycle or dispose of it. Certain items can be delivered to an organization that has the resources to give them a new life. Other items might just be toxic to dispose of the way one might normally dispose of things. There are a range of resources available on this topic. Hopefully, our list of resources gives you the information you need to dispose and recycle materials safely and appropriately.
Please send us an email if you come across another organization or resource that would be helpful for appropriate recycling/disposing avenues. We would love to show our support and add them to our list of proper recycling/disposal-related resources.