To view our inventory, go to: carbondaletoollibrary.myturn.com/library We serve the Carbondale area by lending out tools by appointment. In order to answer the needs of the Carbondale community, and to provide more availability, the volunteer team at Carbondale Tool Library (CTL) have determined to try out a new system for lending tools by appointment.
***DISCLAIMER - PLEASE NOTE***
While this sh
ould enable us to provide more availability/flexibility, we are all volunteers and limited in number. Our volunteer librarians are committed to this project, but we each have families, we have lives, and let’s face it - spit happens. CTL librarians reserve the right to take days off and to cancel appointments as needed. We will make appointments with patrons according to their availability. If no volunteer is able to meet a patron during the times that patron is available, we will simply be unable to accommodate. If no other volunteer can cover an established appointment in case of emergency, we would rather cancel than leave someone hanging. Our hope is to meet the needs of the community while respecting the needs of our volunteers by providing more availability/accessibility to the community without asking our volunteers to sign up for shifts and attend to the library whether someone is coming to borrow/return tools or not. CTL Borrower and Librarian Agreement:
- In order for this to work, CTL librarians and borrowers must communicate respectfully and efficiently. If you contact us to set up an appointment via email, keep an eye out for further email communication. If you contact us via FB Messenger, keep an eye out for further communication via FB Messenger.
- Our librarians are a dedicated team and will make every effort to keep appointments, but it is wise to anticipate that sometimes we must contend with the unexpected. If a librarian must cancel or change an appointment, they will notify the borrower as early as possible. Borrowers are expected to do the same.
- No shows will not be tolerated as it would result in a volunteer going out of their way for no reason.
- Canceling at the last minute is the same as not showing up at all as it would likely result in a CTL volunteer going out of their way for no reason. By requesting an appointment, you are agreeing to the CTL Borrower and Librarian Agreement (above) and to CTL’s Safer Spaces Agreement (below).
2. Check our inventory for the tool/s you need on the CTL website: carbondaletoollibrary.myturn.com
3. Contact us through Facebook Messenger or Gmail to request an appointment. Your request must include the following:
- Your availability for the coming days/week (for best success, provide multiple options). Please note: you may include your hopes (i.e. I am hoping to complete this project over the weekend…), but keep in mind that depending on availability, we may or may not be able to accommodate. Do not contact us on the eve of your project - we are only able to arrange an appointment if you contact us in advance.
- A list of the tools that you hope to borrow so that we can be sure that the tool/s are available, on site, and in good working order.
4. A volunteer will return your message as soon as possible within reason. Our volunteers are not expected to always be available to answer messages, but we each check messages regularly.
5. You and the librarian who is able to meet you will agree on a specific time and meet at the tool library at that agreed upon time.
6. You will need to provide availability for returning the tool/s either prior to or during your appointment so that our team can find a time that someone can meet you.
***Carbondale Tool Library and BALM Safer Spaces Agreement***
No space can be completely safe and free from oppression. However, we would like this space to be welcoming and engaging, and we encourage everyone to be proactive in creating an atmosphere where the safety of others is valued. Abuse, sexual assault, and discrimination will not be tolerated at Carbondale Tool Library (CTL) and the Born Again Labor Museum (BALM) spaces and events. People who have perpetrated interpersonal violence, assault and/or harassment will be asked to leave the space, unless they have actively engaged in an accountability process and are currently in compliance with all the terms of that process (according to the facilitators, the survivor, and/or whomever has been designated to monitor the agreements emerging from the process). Everyone entering CTL and BALM is asked to be aware of their language and behavior, and to think about whether it might be harmful to others. This is no space for violence, for touching people without their consent, for being intolerant of someone’s religious beliefs or lack thereof, for being predatory, racist, ageist, sexist, hetero-sexist, trans-phobic, able-bodyist, classist, sizeist, or for using any other behavior or language that may perpetuate oppression. By entering CTL or BALM, and/or participating in the activities/events of CTL and BALM, you agree to abide by these terms. Please note that this is a ‘living document’ - we welcome continuing discussion about the terms of and the improvement of this space agreement. Please understand and uphold the following when utilizing CTL and BALM spaces or interacting with patrons and volunteers of CTL and BALM:
* Police and city officials are not welcome in this space. Do not grant them entry willingly.
* Be responsible for your own actions. Be aware that your actions have an effect on others despite what your intentions may be.
* Respect everyone’s physical and emotional boundaries. Do not touch anyone without their clear consent. Listen and change your behavior if someone tells you that you are making them uncomfortable.
* Check in before discussing topics that may be triggering (some examples are: sexual abuse, sexual experiences, physical violence, drug experiences, or encounters with the police).
* Respect the pronouns and names of everyone. Do not assume anyone’s gender identity, sexual preference, survivor status, economic status, background, health, etc.
* Respect the sobriety policy of the space. Drugs, alcohol, and intoxicated individuals are only permitted at certain times. Do not bring any illicit drugs into the space.
* The CTL and BALM are gun-free spaces. Do not bring firearms or any sort into the space.
* We welcome children and animals. Their guardians are considered ultimately responsible for them, but we expect all to be sensitive to their needs. Dealing with Conflict
If you experience harassment, abuse, sexual assault, or if a perpetrator of such violence is interfering with your participation in an event/discussion, please approach a Carbondale Tool Librarian, BALM organizer, or volunteer whom you feel comfortable talking to. They are here to help with any conflicts arising from the violation of our space agreement. The Carbondale Tool Librarians and volunteers and BALM organizers are empowered to uphold this space agreement, and to make the final decision on anyone’s expulsion. And as stated earlier, CTL and BALM reserve the right to ask anyone who is in violation of our Safer Space Agreement to leave. When a decision needs to be made to give ‘benefit of the doubt’ to someone who has engaged in abusive behavior or to support a survivor, preference will be given to the survivor. While we cannot guarantee a specific outcome, we will do our best to refer parties to someone who can help facilitate conflict resolution as needed.
