Take a tool, and some tips: St. John's tool library ready for the DIY crowd

Would-be carpenters, plumbers and builders can now borrow their gear from the St. John's Tool Library, which opened this week in St. John's.

Just like abook library, tools are shared among members who sign up.

"You come in, pick up the tool, go to the reception desk, book it out under your name and off you go on your merry way," says Ian Froude, who started the tool-lending library on Empire Avenue.

For a membership fee that starts at $50 a year, users can borrow tools for up to threedays.

Froude saidit gives people access to a range of specialty tools, for a low cost.

"You can't get most of these tools for $50.You can't get most of them for $100," he said.

Froude saidhe also wants to help people try out woodworking to see if it is right for them.

"There's a lot of people that are interested because it will be their first use of any of these tools," he said.

That goal will be helped by workshops that the tool library is planning to hold, where people can learn the tricks of the trades fromskilled tradespeople.

About 70 people have signed up already, according to Froude. More are expected before the end of the year.