Louisville Tool Library

By signing this agreement, I acknowledge that:

1. I am capable of using the tools I am borrowing.  I will use the tools I am borrowing in a safe and proper manner.
2. I do hereby for myself, on behalf of my successors and assigns, in consideration of being permitted to borrow tools, waive any and all claims against the Louisville Tool Library, their officers, agents, and volunteers, and employees for any injury or injuries of any nature that I may suffer or incur in the use of the tools that I am borrowing from the Louisville Tool Library.
3. I do hereby for myself, on behalf of my successors and assigns, in consideration of being permitted to borrow tools, agree to release and indemnify and hold harmless the Louisville Tool Library, their officers, agents, volunteers, and employees from any and all liability, loss, claims, and demands, actions or causes of action for the death or injury to any persons and for any property damage suffered or incurred by any person which arises or may arise or be occasioned in any way from the use or possession of tools I am borrowing from the Louisville Tool Library.

By signing this document, I acknowledge that:

1. I am over 18 years old and all the information provided by me in this agreement is current, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge.
2. I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the Louisville Tool Library’s Tool Use Policy, Waiver of Indemnification, and Safer Spaces Policy.
3. I understand tool rentals are for 7 calendar days to be cleaned and returned during open library hours.

1.      Members must be ≥ 18 years old to borrow from the Louisville Tool Library (“Library”).

2.      Prior to borrowing tools, all Members must: (a) complete a Membership Agreement, (b) sign this Tool Policy form, (c) sign the Waiver and Indemnification, and (d) agree to abide by the Safer Spaces Policy.

3.      Library staff is available to assist in explanation of tool operation.  By taking possession of any item, the Member is certifying capability of using that item in a safe and proper manner, agreeing to pursue any needed training or guidance on safe and proper tool use - including reading user manuals, viewing training videos, or asking for assistance.

4.      Only the Member is authorized to use Library tools.  Non-Members are not permitted to use borrowed tools from the Library – Ever. Not even a partner or best friend.  Please encourage any parties interested to become an official Library Member.  If an organization needs tools for large group events involving use by non-Members, contact the Library to obtain ensure the proper liability signatures are on file.

5.      The Library suggests that any consumables purchased for power tool use (blades, sandpaper, nails), be donated in-kind to our stock for the next Library user.

6.      Members may borrow up to 10 hand tools and 2 power tools at one time.  Librarians reserve the right to allow larger rental quantities on a project-by-project basis.  Let us know what you need and we’ll do our best to accommodate!

7.      Tools circulate for a seven-day lending period. This applies to tools checked out during any of our open hours. Tools may only be returned during the Library’s open hours.

8.      If a tool is returned late the Library suggests the Member make a financial donation if able.  Suggested late fees are NOT meant to be a barrier to borrowing and are in existence to ensure tools come back and are available for another member who might need them.  The suggested donation of $1 per day post due-date helps to keep our library circulating. 

9.      The Library reserves the right to use appropriate steps to retrieve delinquent tools, including the use of a collection agency and/or legal action and assess the delinquent Member with the cost of any such action.

10.  Tools may be renewed if (a) the Member contacts the Library prior to the date the tool is due, and (b) no other Member has reserved the tool.  The Library reserves the right to refuse or limit renewals and will do so based on demand.

11.  The Member agrees that the Library is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in quality of workmanship or materials inherent in any borrowed tools.

12.  The Member agrees that if any borrowed tool becomes unsafe or in a state of disrepair, he or she must immediately discontinue use of the tool and notify the Library of the issue on return, if not earlier.  If a tool breaks – that’s okay, stay safe and let us know.

13.  All tools are to be returned in the same condition as they were issued, barring normal wear and tear.  All tools must be returned clean.  The Member agrees to pay replacement cost due to loss or negligent damage to any item and further agrees to accept the Library’s assessment of fair restitution. 

14.The Library reserves the right to: a. refuse the loan of any item; and/or b. terminate membership at its discretion. 

15. The Louisville Tool Library and Member does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), ability or disability, socioeconomic standing, body size, physical appearance, marital status, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, or political affiliation in any of its activities or operations.  

I affirm that the information that I have provided on the Membership Agreement is current, true, and correct.  I understand that this information may be subject to verification.  I further state that I have read and fully understand the rules and regulations of the Louisville Tool Library, and I understand that failure to comply with any of these rules may result in revocation of my borrowing privileges and/or legal action against me.

This policy is a living document and will be updated periodically to include changes as they come up while we learn and grow as a community. We welcome feedback and input from anyone at any time. The Louisville Tool Library commits to reflecting on feedback and incorporating responsive changes to ensure the safety of all people involved with the library and its programs.

The safety of our staff, volunteers, members, facilitators, and program participants is of the highest importance to us. We strive to create an inclusive environment for people of every gender, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, ethnicity, ability or disability, socioeconomic standing, body size, or physical appearance.

We encourage everyone within the LTL community to join us in this effort. We will not tolerate any forms of discrimination, oppression or harassment, including but not limited to: sexism, racism, white supremacy, homophobia, xenophobia; transphobia; classism; ableism; fat phobia or ageism.

If you have questions about what these terms mean, or how we apply this philosophy in our shop, please contact us at info@louisvilletoollibrary.com. We welcome questions, comments, or feedback on this policy at any time.

Profiling: Profiling based on assumptions or stereotypes is a form of harm that we do not tolerate in our shop. We recognize that people of color, femme presenting people, queer people, people with disabilities, and people of other equity seeking communities are often excluded from organizations that serve makers and tool users, such as the LTL. We actively seek to change this, and we have identified profiling as a micro-aggression that impedes our goals and values and causes harm to the people in our community. 

In order to uphold this policy, we ask our community to check their assumptions about who knows about tools, woodworking, construction, leather-working, and other projects shop users might engage in. Think critically about whether you are applying stereotypes like the idea that women or non-binary folks don’t know very much about tools, or whether you are making assumptions about someone’s skills based on how you perceive their physical abilities. Acknowledge that white supremacy is deeply ingrained in settler culture and think critically about how that might impact your own ideas about others.

Profiling includes sexism, racism, xenophobia, white supremacy, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, classism, fat-phobia and ageism. It is a form of harassment.

Harassment: Harassment includes offensive verbal comments or attitudes related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability or disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing; deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of the event, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Profiling is also considered a form of harassment.

People asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

The LTL is based on cooperative values, and we expect all members of our community to uphold the expectations outlined in this policy. If you see someone being harassed, consider what you can do to de-escalate the situation and help ensure that person’s safety. All members have the authority to refer to this policy and ask anyone committing harassment to stop the harassment immediately. We also invite feedback and reports to us directly at info@louisvilletoollibrary.com.

Violence: Profiling and harassment are both forms of violence and will be treated as such when witnessed by or reported to LTL staff, volunteers, or facilitators.

Our volunteers and staff will ask anyone committing verbal violence to leave the shop or workspace immediately.

If there is a threat of physical violence, it may be necessary to call the police. The LTL recognizes that policing is not an equitable service and can present an increased risk of danger and violence, particularly for Black and Indigenous people. We ask our volunteers, staff, and community to consider these alternatives to calling the police:

     a. De-escalate the situation if you feel comfortable. Remain calm and say whatever seems necessary to make the aggressor leave the shop or workspace. Lock the door behind them and check on anyone remaining in the shop. Ensure they are safe to leave. Offer to call a friend or family member to escort them if necessary.

     b. Don’t feel obligated to defend property. If someone attempts to steal property or money from the shop, comply and report back to LTL staff or email us at info@louisvilletoollibrary.com.

     c. If your personal property is stolen and you need to file a police report, please consider going to the police station instead of bringing police into the LTL.

     d. Call or text VictimLink at 1-800-563-0808 for immediate support and to be connected with resources for people experiencing mental health episodes.

How the LTL will respond to profiling, harassment, and other forms of violence:

Any incident of violence that is witnessed by or reported to LTL staff, volunteers, or facilitators will be investigated by the LTL Board.

Steps will be taken to support anyone who experienced or witnessed the violence, including harassment and profiling.

After investigating, the LTL Board will take action, with the full consent and input of anyone impacted by the violence, to address the incident with the person who committed it whenever possible. Board action will be proportionate to the level of aggression found to have occurred, and may include:

     a. Notifying the aggressor that they have breached our Safer Spaces Policy and explaining that any further transgression could lead to expulsion from the space/event, and potential revocation of membership.

     b. Expelling the aggressor from LTL membership and events.

     c. If the aggressor is a volunteer, facilitator, staff, or board member, notifying them that they have breached our Safer Spaces Policy and requiring that they take relevant training to better understand the harm they have caused. Explaining that a further breach will result in expulsion from their position at the LTL.

     d. If a crime has been committed, including sexual violence or hate crimes, our Board will support anyone directly impacted in reporting to police or community policing services if they choose to do so.

Our Commitment 

Our staff and volunteers commit to uphold the vision, mission and values of the LTL in all of our activities, by providing a safer space for all members of our community. We commit to upholding the prevention of profiling, harassment, and other violence as outlined in this policy. We welcome feedback on our efforts to create a safer space. All feedback will be reviewed, valued, and incorporated into our activities and applicable policies.

Please feel free to contact any of the following people with questions, comments, or feedback on this policy:

Officer of Logistics Committee: Katherine@Louisvilletoollibrary.com

Officer of Operations Committee: Paul@Louisvilletoollibrary.com

Officer of Development Committee: Lou@Louisvilletoollibrary.com

Officer of Marketing Committee: Shelby@Louisvilletoollibrary.com