Julie. A story.

As our computer wizard, Julie has been studiously and tirelessly entering donated tools into the Library's Inventory database.  We thank her for her efforts, despite the recent discovery that she's been perhaps just a bit too tireless: at closing on a Saturday a librarian went to sweep the floor but discovered our broom was nowhere to be found.  Mystery.  Days later at our monthly organizational meeting the mystery was solved -"Oh my goodness, I put a Tool Number on that broom!  If something is sitting there, a number goes on it."  Our broom had been loaned out.  So from now on you'll see that the Tool librarians always keep moving to avoid being inventoried for lending!

Do you need a Tool or Knife Sharpened?

Jesse Bennett and Harmonie Medlin, of Sharpening4U will be available at the SEPTL on Tues, July 6 from 5:30 to 7:00pm (our new weekday hours!) to sharpen SEPTL members' personal Tools and Knives (at their standard rates). They'll be there to sharpen SEPTL tools gratis, a valuable and much appreciated service they perform on and ongoing basis for us  - part of our effort to keep our tools in tiptop condition.  We hope this time the push lawn mower will be available for them to take away to sharpen in their shop!

Disconnecting Downspouts

Last week six SEPTL members

Catha Loomis

Colombe Jodar 

Truman Daniels

Oliver Daniels

Steve Couche 

Sue Brown

Michael Brandt

volunteered their morning, working along with some fabulous Portland Downspout Disconnect Program employees, disconnecting residential downspouts from the sewer system.  This allows roof water to drain to lawns and gardens rather than allowing it to overwhelm the city's sewer system and pollute the rivers.

But we also had an ulterior motive. In this special program, we earned $26 for each disconnect!  This money (check back right here in a few days for the Total we earned) goes right into the  Library's tool fund to buy some of those tools you've been asking for.  Once again, neighbors helping neighbors.

We'll be able to participate in this cash-generating program one more time on July 13.  Contact downspouts@septl.org if you'd like to be added to the alternates-list in case one of the volunteers already signed up needs to bow out.  It was fun, informative, and a great way to help our community and our Tool Library.

Tuesday evening hours!

Wonderful news! Thanks to our fabulous volunteers, your neighbors, we are thrilled to announce that the SEPTL will be open Tuesday nights June 29th to October 2nd from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Members will be able to check in and out tools, and people will be able to donate tools.  See you then!

July Tabling Events

Visit SEPTL any Saturday from 9am to 2pm to see what the Tool Library is all about, or feel free to come chat with us at a couple of upcoming tabling events:

Mt Tabor Concert - July 15th, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Clinton/Division Street Fair July 24, 10am - 3pm

See you then!

Please get tools back on time!

Most users are getting their borrowed tools back to the Library before the 10am deadline the following Saturday. Thank you!

But alas not everyone. Return a tool late and you will pay a Late Fee, but that does not undo the distress you have caused your neighbor waiting for that tool. Consider how would you feel if the tool you were looking to check out from the Library was not checked back when it was supposed to be.

Please remember your neighbors!

Thank you Dennis!

Dennis Fantz first got stimulated to look into the SE Portland Tool Library by an article on Tool Libraries in The Oregonian written by Scott Learn. He has since become the single largest source of great tools donated to the SEPTL.

Among the tools are a two belt sanders along with sand paper, two jig saws, two chop saws, a virtually new Milwaukie SawzAll, two drills, a Milwaukie HoleHawg with bits, and two circular saws with several blades.

Even more amazing, Dennis says he's not done yet. He's asked Steve Couche, SEPTL Founder, what other tools the Library most needs so he can go out and find them to donate as well.

What more can we say, but "Thank you Dennis!"