On Saturday, April 4, a community effort more than a year in the making was publicly unveiled. The Chippewa Valley Tool Library (CVTL), both a local nonprofit organization and physical space, held its open house event and donation drive ahead of its formal end-of-spring opening.

CVTL Board President, Mike Richter, spearheaded the creation of a local “tool library” – a communal space for tools, projects and education. As of last summer when all the paperwork came through, CVTL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is completely volunteer-run, Richter said.

The April 4 event was a “huge success,” he said, going off “better than we could have imagined.”

Roughly 100 community members checked out the tool library and donated equipment. Now, the local tool library has a great start on its offerings, which include: power tools like drills and saws; hand tools like chisels, measuring devices and more; multiple air compressors and shop vacuums; landscaping tools like shovels, hoes, power washers and more; a ton of wrenches and sockets, among other items.

Folks left their email addresses on a sign-up sheet at the open house event, which will be used by the CVTL to share updates in the coming weeks. In the future, the CVTL will offer classes and its workshop space for use, with the tool library always its central offering.

"This is a place to meet your neighbors, learn skills and grow more community-reliance that can transcend generations."

MIKE RICHTER

BOARD PRESIDENT, CHIPPEWA VALLEY TOOL LIBRARY

“Our priority is providing members with access to borrowed tools,” Richter said.
“Much like a public library, a member can check out a number of tools for a given amount of time (seven days).”

“Those interested, pay an annual fee up front based on their preferred tier. Each tier comes with its own set of perks,” Richter said. 

The CVTL’s primary membership tiers – which will officially be up and running in late May – are $120-$225. Some avenues, including scholarships, will be available for those who can’t make the annual payment.

Members will also receive a discount on classes and access to the CVTL’s workshop space, Richter noted. Memberships are the primary funding source for the new nonprofit.

Donations will continue to be accepted, with specific desired tools and equipment including weed whippers, leaf blowers and battery-operated mowers. If the tool library receives requests for more specialty tools it does not readily have, the CVTL may put out a request to the public.

“This is a place to meet your neighbors, learn skills and grow more community-reliance that can transcend generations," Richter said.

To learn more about the Chippewa Valley Tool Library (320 Putnam St., Eau Claire), email admin@cvtools.org. Keep up with the organization on Facebook.