Brunswick Tool Library, Inc in Brunswick East | Library

Brunswick Tool Library, Inc

Locality: Brunswick East

Address: Basement 1 underground carpark, East Brunswick Village, 127 Nicholson Street 3057 Brunswick East, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org/

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• Shopping & retail
• Hardware shop
• Non-profit organisation
• Library

24.01.2022 Yesterday afternoon our volunteers held a barbie to farewell to Nico, BTL's workshop coordinator. Some of you may be familiar with Nico as a workshop facilitator, but not everyone saw how much work and commitment Nico put in behind the scenes to organise and deliver those workshops. As a volunteer, this means he’s been incredibly generous with his spare time spent organising, strategising and partnering. Nico has done an incredible job, not only growing the number of worksho...ps BTL runs, but managing to grow our workshops through the pandemic. Nico founded the Queer Tools workshop program, provided free workshops to people in the LGBTQI+ community. Nico has also been instrumental in grant applications to help us fund and support the work that we do, and many other things, too numerous to list here. We’re wishing Nico all the best for the next phase of his journey up to sunny old Queensland. He will be missed, but he’s leaving the tool library better than when he found it, and his contribution won’t soon be forgotten.

24.01.2022 Hey everyone, This post is a little out of the ordinary for us. Were sharing it because theres a new proposal that has serious implications for Australians, and we think its important to share how this will affect our grassroots media and our communities....Continue reading

23.01.2022 Were going to close the library for Stage Four Shutdown, but will still be open tomorrow with different hours and slightly different rules: Wednesday, 5 August: 3pm to 7pm. Contactless pickup only... Tomorrow will be click and collect only. This means our volunteers wont be able to lend you tools that you ask for in person. Reserve your tools online in advance if you plan to borrow tools tomorrow. Deliveries during shutdown We hope that well be able to open for deliveries, but, unfortunately, we cant guarantee this at the moment. Were working to understand if this will be possible, and will let you know as soon as we have more info. For existing tool loans What happens with your tools loans will depend on if were allowed to deliver, but well renew any loans that are due back after Wednesday until we know more or are open again. If you have tools due tomorrow, make sure you return or renew them to avoid any late fees. Online events Were working on delivering some online programs that will help us stay connected and help you create, restore and repair. Keep an eye out for updates! Thank you so much to anyone who has visited BTL recently. Were so grateful for the way youve adopted the online bookings, socially distanced, worn masks and continued to support BTL with your memberships. Stay safe in lockdown, and well see you on the other side.

22.01.2022 This week we had the first board meeting with our new Vice President, Preethi! Pre is taking over for Sally who's contributed a lot to the Tool Library over the past couple of years. Sally was the volunteer coordinator who introduced so many of our volunteers to the library. She's been instrumental in most (if not all) of our grant applications, which has led to the funding that makes our work possible. Sally led the charge at our Strategic Planning session in 2019, defining ...a vision of what the Brunswick Tool Library will look like in years to come. Sally will still be a part of a library, but she's now taking more time to focus on a new role at the Red Cross. Sally's generosity, community focus and pragmatism have been invaluable to BTL, and the rest of us at BTL will always be grateful for everything she's done for the library so far.

22.01.2022 Tamara is back again with another stitching hack! Dont toss away your favourite tshirt or dress because of a ripped seam. Lear how to fix it using these two easy techniques.

20.01.2022 Need a hammer? Like if you think we should get one of these for the toolo

20.01.2022 Be a Reverse Vandal! Fix your streets! This is a really great from a group in Estonia (video in English) which does maker spaces, repair cafes, community gardens and makes these great videos. Worth checking out for anyone who's interested in the repair movement. ... Come down this arvie to grab the tools you need for your reverse vandalism. https://www.youtube.com/watch

20.01.2022 Our Garden Basics workshop is on again this Sunday. Learn from experienced home grower and Nature Steward Ollie as he explores the benefits of a sustainable home garden. Discover what’s possible in small spaces, and get advice on both raised wicking beds or in-ground beds. Join for a chance to ask questions about your garden and get ready for the growing season. Tickets are at: https://bit.ly/3jCYVMf

19.01.2022 Hey everyone, Just letting you know that you can still borrow tools from the library as our area isnt affected by the new restrictions. Please avoid the library if youre showing symptoms, awaiting test results, at high risk or have had contact with someone showing symptoms. ... Instead you can ask for a loan extension or delivery by sending us an email to [email protected]. Stay safe everyone, and look out for each other. Your friends at BTL.

19.01.2022 We’re sad to say that we won’t be able to open on Wednesday. As can only be expected at this time, advice is always changing and uncertain, which isn’t helped by our little org’s weird status (we’re grouped in with real estate rentals ). We can’t confirm when we’ll be able to open again, but our volunteers are working to stay on top of all the latest info so that we can open as soon and safely as possible.... Thanks for your ongoing support.

19.01.2022 Ollie is a home grower who fondly remembers being lifted into the green-waste bin to stomp down the prunings as a kid. He recently completed a year of Horticultural study and is well read on Permacultural concepts. He is a Nature Steward, and he has done environmental volunteering for his whole life. His garden is a hybrid of raised beds, pots and in-ground planting, and waste redirection and simplicity through community are his goals. Ollies also a BTL volunteer whos been... sharing his love for nature and knowledge of the local environment around the library for the past year. Sign up for BTLs first online workshop this Sunday to learn from our volunteers Ollie and Ali in this gardening 101 workshop. Book tickets: https://bit.ly/2FlrVsH All the spots are almost full for this personalised group workshop, so make sure you book soon or let us know in the comments if youd like us to run another Garden Bed Basics soon.

18.01.2022 Don't forget we're now open Mondays, 4-8pm! Reserve some tools and come visit us today: bit.ly/3e7E6qoDon't forget we're now open Mondays, 4-8pm! Reserve some tools and come visit us today: bit.ly/3e7E6qo

18.01.2022 Repairing one of the first tractors from 1904. Thay don't make them like they used. Funny seeing this old machine up next to a modern John Deere.

18.01.2022 Anna is a draftsperson so she spends lots of time on construction sites and uses tools borrowed from BTL for projects that she makes with recovered materials. Anna recently made a home organiser out of offcuts of timber, this sweet TV stand, and sanded back her coffee table with borrowed tools. Thanks for sharing Anna! We always love seeing what you create with our tools. Post them in the comments or send them to [email protected].

18.01.2022 Power bills get pretty crazy at this time of year. Not all of the suggestions are possible if youre living in an existing home or renting, but there are still things you can do yourself to save energy: Insulate your roof to stop 30% of the heat escaping from your home seal the outside around windows and doors to prevent drafts replace lighbulbs with LED and fluorescent bulbs.... Replace shower heads with 3-star water efficiency rated heads Comment if theres anything else youve been doing around your place to cut down on energy consumption this winter

17.01.2022 Multi purpose...

17.01.2022 Learn how to make your own 3 layer mask! Sewing your own mask is an affordable and sustainable way to add more masks to your rotation. This class is perfect for beginners who want to learn some fundamental sewing skills or more experienced stitchers who want to refresh on their skills and get a hold of a great pattern to work off. All you need is a few basic materials. ... Register at: https://bit.ly/2QjoUev

16.01.2022 Thanks to yesterday's announcement we will be opening this week! Check your emails for info on covid safe borrowing, our new opening hours and other BTL news! Reserve your tools now for pickup tomorrow: https://bit.ly/3e7E6qo

16.01.2022 After over 7 years with the same hours, we are permanently opening 3 days per week! Thanks to all the volunteers who've helped us grow to this point, especially over the last year. Sign up online to start borrowing at https://bit.ly/35VLLo0

16.01.2022 Its been an absolutely beuatiful day which means Spring is finally here! You can get ready for the growing season with our Garden Bed Basics workshop. Learn more about soil testing, seeds, weeds and heaps more from our experienced trainers. Find out more and get ya tickets at: https://bit.ly/3mbymj4

15.01.2022 Have you been riding more recently? Bikes are a great option right now, for gym free excercise and getting around the neighbourhood when PT isnt an option. But the increase in demand and breakdowns in the supply chain mean that its hard to get a hold of new bikes or parts. Check out this article iFixit.com for heaps of great advice on how you can affordably repair and give an old bike a second life.... Anyone who wants an extra hand can still sign up for one of the remaining spots in our bike workshop: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/118447332159/

15.01.2022 Dylan used his time in iso to create this two-in-one bench press and chinup bar. Wed love to see and share what youve been working on. Send pics of your projects to [email protected].

14.01.2022 Norm Warehouse in Coburg is having a raffle this afternoon! Buy a ticket from $5 for a chance to win some great prizes like workshop vouchers, hand crafted knives or a beautiful wooden sculpture from artist Mila Poblete. All the funds go towards workshop and building upgrades at Norm, where you can go to learn more about ethical carpentry and work on your projects.

14.01.2022 Hey everyone, Letting you know BTL will remain open during the shutdown. You can book your tools online for a speedy pickup that allows us to maintain social distancing. For anyone whos self isolating, you can book a tool delivery every second Thursday. Get in touch with us if you cant return your tools because youre waiting on test results, or need to self-isolate for any other reason, and well renew your loan for you. Email any questions to [email protected]. Stay safe in lockdown everyone, and keep on fixing.

14.01.2022 Whats a wicking bed!? Why are they so good? How do I get one? You make it of course, and Ali from our last Garden Bed Basics workshop is here to show you how you can use wicking beds to keep your precious plant babies alive during the scorching summer months. Garden Bed Basics is back by popular demand. Register for a 1.5 hour session where youll learn about gardening concepts and ask questions specific to your yard.... Only three spots left, so book your tickets now: https://bit.ly/3hxqmoH

13.01.2022 Can peer support be the lifesaving connection that trans, gender diverse, and non-binary (TGDNB) people need? Tonight, Thorneharbour’s panellists will be discussing just that. Our workshop coordinator Nico will be talking how BTL connect volunteers and will share and how we work together, from his perspective as peer support facilitator and organizer and founder of the Queer Tools workshop series. ... Register for this event and join the conversation tonight from 6pm tonight! https://thorneharbour.org//tgdnb-social-connection-peer-/

13.01.2022 Jono doesnt have a car, but with deliveries from BTL he was able to get the tools he needed without an awkward trip on PT. Check out this sweet step stool he made, complete with slide-out section for a record player. All tool deliveries now come with an automatic two week loan period. Jump onto our website to get tools delivered your door this Thursday!

11.01.2022 A lot of people are doing it tough because of the virus, which is making it harder for many to put food on the table. Many of them, including international students, people seeking asylum, families, people living alone who may not be eligible for government support. Food relief agencies are struggling to keep up. Morefood 4 Moreland is offering relief by delivering boxes of fresh fruit and veg to those who need it most. Volunteers pack the boxes and Fawkner Food Bowls tops u...p boxes with greens from the market garden onsite. Inner North Community Foundation provides a grant for eggs and milk to provide a family's food needs for a week. CIS Moreland are assisting with intake and Council is providing delivery. The whole thing is run by trusted community organisations. They now have a goal to support more people, and are aiming to raise $10,000 before Chrissy. You can make a donation to provide $20 fresh boxes for free to our Moreland neighbours who need your support today: https://food-boxes-for-moreland.raisely.com/ If you can’t afford a donation right now, make sure you share this post to get the word out and get more fresh food to our neighbours in need!

11.01.2022 Grow your own food for the coming Spring with our first online workshop! Garden Bed Basics will help you to begin or continue to grow your own food with raised wicking beds, or in-ground beds. This workshop is for anyone interested in starting a project during this lockdown, using simple tools and equipment.... Think of it as a Gardening 101 session! We only have 8 spots available to make the experience more personal and interactive. Find out more about what youll learn and get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/116541130659

10.01.2022 What do you do when you have wobbly spokes on one of your bike wheels? Use the truing stand from BTL to tighten tune spokes up! Reserve the truing stand that Connor and Pre used to fix their bikes during iso: https://bit.ly/2XYfybB

10.01.2022 Happy Hard Rubbish! Moreland’s next collection will run from 12 October until 20 November. This time of year is like Christmas for those of us who hate waste (and love to hoard). ... When you’re putting stuff out, don’t forget to consider that not all of your old stuff can be recycled. Recycling Mattresses, whitegoods and e-waste will be recycled Landfill Old furniture, timber, boxes of odds and ends, chinaware and glass, tools and lawn mowers and toys or sporting equipment will end up in landfill Try donating anything in good condition before chucking any of that stuff out on the curb. We’re asking for tool donations. Email pictures of your old tools to [email protected] and we’ll let you know if we can take them. Many other things can be donated to charity stores (after shutdown). Post in Hard Rubbish Rescue - Moreland or Brunswick Good Karma Network to find a new home (again, for after shutdown). If you’re scavenging this year make sure you’re not breaking any lockdown rules (keeping clean hands, masks, etc -- you know the drill). Don’t collect any scrap metal, as this is for the waste collection contractors (removing it makes Hard Rubbish more expensive for the council). Thanks for being so generous with your old tools. Passing them on is a great way to help other people out and reduce stuff that goes to landfill!

10.01.2022 Anyone who’s a member of Darebin Hard Rubbish Heroes will recognise Kelly’s miraculous restorations. Kelly is a self-taught furniture flipper who’s been flipping for the past 15 years. She has a passion for turning roadside collection items into beautiful reloved treasures, and has been teaching others in classes for the past five years. I think if you can ‘Make Do & Mend you should do it. Do it for the planet, do it for the future generations and do it for your own hip po...cket. Our first furniture restoration workshop with Kelly will show you exactly what to do with all your salvaged pieces. Learn how everything you need to get started and make old furniture look like new. Tickets at: https://bit.ly/3iRT700 In this 1.5 hour workshop, Kelly will show you the basics of performing a condition assessment, designing your project, restoring timber finishes, reupholstering, and more. If you have always wanted to try furniture flipping, I’ll get you started! But be warned... it’s incredibly addictive! This is a small workshop for 10 people, so that everyone has time to ask questions about their own projects. Get your tickets now for a small donation that goes towards supporting the Brunswick Tool Library. Tickets at: https://bit.ly/34OnNdz

10.01.2022 Delivery is back! You can keep getting tools from BTL delivered every second Thursday. When you get tools delivered you automatically get them for a two-week loan, so that youve got heaps of time to polish off all your projects! Learn more about how you can book a delivery on our website:... https://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org/how-to-reserve-tools See more

09.01.2022 One more day until our bike maintenance workshop. Open to everyone for any donation that you can afford. Spots are limited, so get in quick to avoid missing out!

09.01.2022 Niel from Pask Makes is a Queenslander who can transform scrap wood into seemingly anything. This project, where he uses old wood to create a bladeless fan pushes the material to it limits. Maybe a bit much for most hobby woodworkers, but definitely inspiring and interesting to watch.

09.01.2022 Everybody starts somewhere!

07.01.2022 How much can you save by signing up to a tool library? Tool libraries help us save money and reduce our environmental impact by sharing resources. For less than the price of Spotify or Netflix you can get access to hundreds of tools, many worth more than the price of a single power tool you might only use once. Great to see David from Gold Coast Tool Library featured in this ABC article and raising awareness about the good resource sharing can do!

07.01.2022 "If the R-value [level of insulation] in your walls doubles, the amount of energy youre loosing is cut in half." If youre thinking about insulating your home check out this video to find out what the best options are and how you can save the most energy!

07.01.2022 Happy Saturday everyone! Feels good to be out and about again, even if there’s not much sun today. BTL is open on our normal Saturday hours again, 10am-2pm. Thanks to everyone who stopped by on Wednesday to say hey and drop off tools. We’re super grateful to anyone who can return their tools early so that we can get them out to other members. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon!

06.01.2022 Come join our volunteers at this free online event from the Brisbane Tool Library. Get your tickets and reserve your spot to hear from tool libraries from around the world and how theyre changing thier communities. See you there!

06.01.2022 This great series from Bikes Please will show you how you can keep up your bike while in lockdown, even when you cant get a hold of specialist bike tools. Check it out if youre interested in learning more about caring for your trusty cycle. Were also going to be running online bike workshops in the next couple of weeks, so let us know what things youd like to learn about bike repair in the comments.

05.01.2022 Interesting move from IKEA who will "BUY BACK" old furniture. Big companies want to projet an image of sustainability, and every hard waste pickup shows that IKEA needs to play a big role in reducing waste going to landfill. Do you think this move from Ikea can make a difference? Or is this more marketing spin that won't change much? Let us know what you think

04.01.2022 Learn how to repair your bike in our bike workshop! Maintenance of your bike is an important skill and a sustainable way to keep your bike going. This class is perfect for beginners who want to learn some basic maintenance or more experienced repairers who want to get some tips or refresh on their skills, and only requires a few basic tools.... This is a small discussion based workshop for 8 people, so dont wait to get your tickets!

04.01.2022 Bats insulation is not the most efficient insulation you can put in, but its affordable and simple to install. Have you installed insulation? Leave your advice for other DIY installers in the comments!

04.01.2022 How can we make the food system more sustainable? Growing Farmers is the new community project that will feed the community with food grown locally. The Backyard Farmers project is pairing aspiring farmers up with residents and creates a network of backyard gardens to grow produce for local markets. Farmers get trained with skills that they need to run their own local farming business, and residents get a weekly food basket, help maintaining their garden and strong connection...s with others in their community. The project is launching in Fawkner with plans to spread into Moreland and beyond. Growing Farmers is looking for residents in Fawkner who want to take part in the first stage of this exciting project. Fill out the application to get your own backyard farm in this stage: growingfarmers.org.au/fawkner-residents-info-page If youd love to train as a backyard farmer, you can find out more here: https://www.growingfarmers.org.au/urban-farmers-info-page

03.01.2022 Whats the one thing in the shed that you never get around to fixing?

03.01.2022 Need tools but can't make it down to the library? We're delivering this Thursday! Jump onto our catalogue to reserve tools for delivery and get them picked up for free after two-weeks!... Make your reservation: https://bit.ly/3e7E6qo

03.01.2022 Our former volunteer Kate reported this great idea from Berlin. This is the German version of a tool library, where you get your tools alongside your beer from the 24 hour kiosk. Thanks for sharing Kate! What kind of tools would you like to see in a tool kiosk? Let us know in the comments below

02.01.2022 Hey everyone, Our vollies are working from home on ways to improve the tool library. Were in the process of delivering more (online) workshops based on what you told us in the last survey, but but make sure you still vote for workshops so we know if this is still the main priority for you. Let us know what you want most from your tool library so that we can come back stronger and better than ever, and tell us more about what you want in the comments!

01.01.2022 What's the hottest gift this Chrissy? BTL gift memberships are more popular than Nikki Webster CDs or Action Man figurines*. These puppies are flying off the shelves like hot cakes! Batteries not sold seperately. A full membership is only $85. Buy them on our website and we'll mail you a gift voucher for free: https://bit.ly/33XWBK0 Get someone you care about a BTL membership this Christmas.... *Maybe, but probably not

01.01.2022 How cool is this! Fun way to make use of all your old stuff *Please dont use BTL tools to build your Rube Goldberg machines.

01.01.2022 Big thanks to Tamara Russel for volunteering her time to run our upcoming mask-making workshop. Thanks to Tamara, all the money from the mask making workshop will go directly towards supporting the library so that when we open we can come back better than ever. Learn to sew by hand and make your own mask by getting tickets at: https://bit.ly/2EtA3XW