What’s a Tool Library?

A Tool Library works just like a book library in that it lends out items for patrons to borrow and return, saving money, and building community and shared experiences. A Tool Library just happens to lend out tools! We’ve got kitchen tools like blenders, odd cake pan sizes, a butane torch, and cookie press. For traditional tools we have a chop saw, shovels and rakes, clamps, bolt cutters, impact driver, cordless drills, hole saws, and more. A searchable list can be found here. Tools must be used in St. George or surrounding towns, and user must have a valid library card, have read the Tool Lending Policy, and have an up to date Tool Waiver on file.

Tool Waiver

Please fill out this Google Form to begin the process of using tools. You must also have an active and up to date library card, which you can check the status of by logging in with your card number here.

Tool Lending Policy

TOOL LENDING POLICY

The Jackson Memorial Library has a stock of kitchen, hand, and power tools that we are pleased to lend to our library members. We call this service the Tool Lending Library. This document describes the procedures for borrowing tools, as well as the legal rights and obligations of the library and its patrons. A list of tools available for lending may be found here.

Eligibility and Registration
To be eligible to borrow tools from the library, a borrower must be a card member of the Jackson Memorial Library who is 18 years of age or older and who resides in St. George, Maine, or a neighboring community.

Borrowers must register with the library prior to borrowing tools. Registration will be complete upon completion of any required forms, verification of the borrower's address, and the execution by the borrower of a Waiver, Release and Indemnification Agreement in a form provided by the library.

The library cannot process registrations later than 30 minutes before closing time. 

Verification of Address

Verification is accomplished by presenting a valid Jackson Memorial Library card and a current photo identification showing a residence address in St. George or a neighboring community. If the photo identification does not show a street address, one of the following will be required:

  • Current lease/rental agreement (with patron's name listed as tenant) for a residence in St. George or a neighboring community.

  • Current utility bill (with the patron's name listed) for a residence in St. George or a neighboring community.

  • Current tax bill (in patron's name) identifying the patron as owner of a residence in St. George or a neighboring community.

If residence in St. George or a neighboring community cannot be verified any other way, the patron must come to the library and fill out a postcard addressed to a street address. The library will mail the card, and upon receipt of the postcard by mail, the borrower will present the postcard to library staff as verification of address.

Borrowing Procedures

  1. Number and Availability of Tools

    1. In general, a borrower may have up to 10 tools checked out at any one time.  Of these, not more than three may be power tools.

    2. A new tool patron may check out not more than two tools, valued at less than $200 each, on the first borrowing after registration.  When those tools have been returned on time, the 10-tool limit above will apply.

    3. Loans of tools cannot be processed later than 30 minutes before closing time.

    4. The library may change these borrowing limits at any time.

    5. The borrower is responsible to furnish all consumables, such as sandpaper and solder.

  2. Loan Period

    1. The loan period for tools is seven days.

    2. The borrower may renew the loan of a tool on or before the due date by telephoning the library or renewing online on the library’s website. If the tool is not needed back in stock because it has been reserved for another borrower (see below), it may be borrowed for an additional loan period of seven days. Up to three consecutive renewals may be made. Renewal may not be available for tools in high demand.

    3. The library may change the loan period or the number of permitted renewals at any time.

  3. Reservations and Holds

    1. If a tool is not immediately available for loan, the borrower may make a reserve request by telephone or on the library’s website here to borrow the tool when it becomes available. Reserve requests will be handled in the order received. When the tool becomes available, the library will notify the borrower, and the borrower may pick up the tool on the day of notification or on the next business day.

    2. If a tool is available, the borrower may have the tool put on hold for one business day by telephone or on the library’s website here. 

    3. Except for reservations and holds described above, tools may not be reserved for a future date.

    4. If the borrower fails to pick up the tool within the required time, the reservation or hold will expire, and the library may lend the tool to another borrower.

    5. Seasonal demand may affect reservation and hold policies. The library may alter or suspend any of these reservation and hold policies at any time.

  4. Returns

    1. Tools must be returned in person to a staff member when the library is open. They must not be left in the book-return box outside or the book-return slot at the front desk.

    2. Borrowers must clean tools before they are returned.

    3. Tools may not be returned later than 30 minutes before closing time.

Borrowers’ Responsibilities and Agreements

All loans are subject to the following agreements by the borrower.

  1. All tools and equipment lent by the library are the property of the Jackson Memorial Library.

  2. Only the borrower is authorized to use borrowed tools. The borrower may not permit the use of borrowed tools by any other person except with the written permission of the library.

  3. Tools must be used only in St. George and neighboring communities.

  4. The borrower agrees that the library is not responsible for any manufacturing defects or for risks inherent in any tools of the kind borrowed.

  5. If a borrowed tool becomes unsafe or in a state of disrepair, the borrower will immediately discontinue use of the tool and return it to the library.

  6. The borrower agrees to return each tool in the same condition as when it was borrowed, normal wear and tear excepted. The borrower will pay the cost to repair any damaged tool and the current replacement cost for each item not returned. Replacement fees will not be refunded, even if the lost material is recovered.

  7. If any tool is not returned thirty days after the due date, the borrower will be billed and the library will have the right to take appropriate step to retrieve it, including by collection agency and/or legal action.

  8. The library may revoke, suspend or reduce borrowing privileges for persistent late returns or any severe late return.

  9. The library retains the right to refuse the loan of any item for failure to comply with any of the above rules and regulations, or for falsification of any information.