Santa Rosa Tool Library

We’ve all been there. You take on a home repair or renovation project yourself, hoping to save a little money. Then you stumble up against a need for a specialized tool that costs more than the rest of the project put together. And worse, you know you’ll probably never use that tool again. Rental is often the answer, but that can be pricy, too.

Dustin Zuckerman, a library tech knew the answer was simple. Community. But many neighbors no longer know each other well enough to share tools. So Zuckerman, out of his own pocket ( and his own apartment), started the Santa Rosa Tool Library.

It’s grown to have 195 registered patrons and 350 tools.  

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Need a jackhammer, power drain auger, lawn mower, tile saw, power washer, tree trimmer, chainsaw, mortar hoe, router, belt sander, or bulb planter or ladder? It’s all there, in Zuckerman’s shed.

Any resident of Sonoma County over 18 can borrow tools for free with a current photo ID and a utility bill bearing the same address. The loan period is 7 days, and a maximum of 8 tools may be borrowed at the same time. There is no charge unless the item is returned damaged or late (late fees are $1-$10 a day depending on the item). To reserve and pick up a tool, people call him or e-mail (576-0590 or use the reservation form at borrowtools.org.).