five years ago the first tool lending library in the state of Illinois opened
library in the state of Illinois opened
library in the state of Illinois opened its doors for business
or should I say door
or should I say door we had one door it opened into about a
we had one door it opened into about a
we had one door it opened into about a hundred ish square-foot closet in the
hundred ish square-foot closet in the
hundred ish square-foot closet in the back of a one-room office building right
back of a one-room office building right
back of a one-room office building right here on the west side of Wilmington I
here on the west side of Wilmington I
here on the west side of Wilmington I know that this doesn’t really look or
know that this doesn’t really look or
know that this doesn’t really look or sound like much but trust me to a 21
sound like much but trust me to a 21
sound like much but trust me to a 21 year old college junior that was pretty
year old college junior that was pretty
year old college junior that was pretty sweet just nine months before we had
sweet just nine months before we had
sweet just nine months before we had nothing ten months before I had never
nothing ten months before I had never
nothing ten months before I had never even heard of a Tool Library in case you
even heard of a Tool Library in case you
even heard of a Tool Library in case you haven’t either think book library but
haven’t either think book library but
haven’t either think book library but instead of books power tools we did our
instead of books power tools we did our
instead of books power tools we did our first tool loan that day too and even
first tool loan that day too and even
first tool loan that day too and even though I don’t remember exactly what it
though I don’t remember exactly what it
though I don’t remember exactly what it was I guess that doesn’t really matter
was I guess that doesn’t really matter
was I guess that doesn’t really matter could have been a hammer screwdriver
could have been a hammer screwdriver
could have been a hammer screwdriver nail gun make it whatever you want what
nail gun make it whatever you want what
nail gun make it whatever you want what matter was that it actually happened
matter was that it actually happened
matter was that it actually happened what mattered was that we were on our
what mattered was that we were on our
what mattered was that we were on our way now fast forward to today and that
way now fast forward to today and that
way now fast forward to today and that same Tool Library now operates in a
same Tool Library now operates in a
same Tool Library now operates in a 6,000 square foot facility has done 9500
6,000 square foot facility has done 9500
6,000 square foot facility has done 9500 to loans hosts do-it-yourself workshops
to loans hosts do-it-yourself workshops
to loans hosts do-it-yourself workshops has built and donated a hundred and
has built and donated a hundred and
has built and donated a hundred and forty beds for kids in our community and
forty beds for kids in our community and
forty beds for kids in our community and has an amazing group of dedicated
has an amazing group of dedicated
has an amazing group of dedicated volunteers now this was a Facebook post
volunteers now this was a Facebook post
volunteers now this was a Facebook post from back in December and it’s a prompt
from back in December and it’s a prompt
from back in December and it’s a prompt it reads because of the tool library I
it reads because of the tool library I
it reads because of the tool library I because of the Tool Library I’ve been
because of the Tool Library I’ve been
because of the Tool Library I’ve been able to work on my first home without
able to work on my first home without
able to work on my first home without spending hundreds on tools that I needed
spending hundreds on tools that I needed
spending hundreds on tools that I needed I’ve been able to replace my smoke
I’ve been able to replace my smoke
I’ve been able to replace my smoke detectors secure paneling in my mudroom
detectors secure paneling in my mudroom
detectors secure paneling in my mudroom to reduce drafts build to raise beds for
to reduce drafts build to raise beds for
to reduce drafts build to raise beds for a garden sand and repaint a free
a garden sand and repaint a free
a garden sand and repaint a free dining-room table to look beautiful it
dining-room table to look beautiful it
dining-room table to look beautiful it the tool every we get stuff done buying
the tool every we get stuff done buying
the tool every we get stuff done buying an old building is a daunting task but
an old building is a daunting task but
an old building is a daunting task but having the Tool Library down the street
having the Tool Library down the street
having the Tool Library down the street from us has made it that much easier the
from us has made it that much easier the
from us has made it that much easier the Tool Library has given me the
Tool Library has given me the
Tool Library has given me the opportunity to get more involved in my
opportunity to get more involved in my
opportunity to get more involved in my community I made some amazing friends
community I made some amazing friends
community I made some amazing friends and has helped me with countless
and has helped me with countless
and has helped me with countless projects that I couldn’t have completed
projects that I couldn’t have completed
projects that I couldn’t have completed without the tools and resources at their
without the tools and resources at their
without the tools and resources at their show now I’m tempted to stand up here
show now I’m tempted to stand up here
show now I’m tempted to stand up here for the next 15 ish minutes and simply
for the next 15 ish minutes and simply
for the next 15 ish minutes and simply read testimonials because honestly this
read testimonials because honestly this
read testimonials because honestly this is what it’s all about these are the
is what it’s all about these are the
is what it’s all about these are the stories that we should be sharing and
stories that we should be sharing and
stories that we should be sharing and while I’m not going to do that don’t
while I’m not going to do that don’t
while I’m not going to do that don’t worry my hope is that what this
worry my hope is that what this
worry my hope is that what this illustrates is we can measure the
illustrates is we can measure the
illustrates is we can measure the success of the Tool Library through
success of the Tool Library through
success of the Tool Library through statistics like we did on the slide
statistics like we did on the slide
statistics like we did on the slide before we can also measure the success
before we can also measure the success
before we can also measure the success of the tool library through stories and
so I think the obvious question here is
so I think the obvious question here is how did this all happen
how did this all happen
how did this all happen how did we go from this to this and then
how did we go from this to this and then
how did we go from this to this and then ultimately to the thriving and dynamic
ultimately to the thriving and dynamic
ultimately to the thriving and dynamic organization that we are today now to
organization that we are today now to
organization that we are today now to tell that story in all of its necessary
tell that story in all of its necessary
tell that story in all of its necessary detail giving credit to all of the
detail giving credit to all of the
detail giving credit to all of the necessary people we would need a lot
necessary people we would need a lot
necessary people we would need a lot more time than we have here tonight and
more time than we have here tonight and
more time than we have here tonight and so instead with the time that we do have
so instead with the time that we do have
so instead with the time that we do have what I’m interested in is whether or not
what I’m interested in is whether or not
what I’m interested in is whether or not the tool library can serve as a model
the tool library can serve as a model
the tool library can serve as a model for others they want to take an idea and
for others they want to take an idea and
for others they want to take an idea and actually make it happen I’d like to try
actually make it happen I’d like to try
actually make it happen I’d like to try to package up a handful of lessons from
to package up a handful of lessons from
to package up a handful of lessons from my to a library experience and share
my to a library experience and share
my to a library experience and share them so that hopefully others can take
them so that hopefully others can take
them so that hopefully others can take them transform their idea into reality
them transform their idea into reality
them transform their idea into reality rinse and repeat so the guiding question
rinse and repeat so the guiding question
rinse and repeat so the guiding question here is how do we boil this thing down
here is how do we boil this thing down
here is how do we boil this thing down reduce it into a generic enough form
reduce it into a generic enough form
reduce it into a generic enough form that anyone can use to launch a big idea
that anyone can use to launch a big idea
that anyone can use to launch a big idea I was a community intern it was the
I was a community intern it was the
I was a community intern it was the summer of 2012 and I was working for the
summer of 2012 and I was working for the
summer of 2012 and I was working for the Illinois Wesleyan action research center
Illinois Wesleyan action research center
Illinois Wesleyan action research center when I first learned about the concept
when I first learned about the concept
when I first learned about the concept of tool lending I thought it was awesome
of tool lending I thought it was awesome
of tool lending I thought it was awesome to me it checked all the boxes
to me it checked all the boxes
to me it checked all the boxes what a good community project should
what a good community project should
what a good community project should look like but what did I know I had zero
look like but what did I know I had zero
look like but what did I know I had zero experience with community work I had
experience with community work I had
experience with community work I had definitely never started a nonprofit I
definitely never started a nonprofit I
definitely never started a nonprofit I had never even tried to launch my own
had never even tried to launch my own
had never even tried to launch my own business in my head it was hard to see
business in my head it was hard to see
business in my head it was hard to see myself as being qualified in my head I
myself as being qualified in my head I
myself as being qualified in my head I was cool with math the accounting
was cool with math the accounting
was cool with math the accounting student worm at the soccer player or
student worm at the soccer player or
student worm at the soccer player or even Mathis sometimes does community
even Mathis sometimes does community
even Mathis sometimes does community service person but I was definitely not
service person but I was definitely not
service person but I was definitely not mat the community Crusader grassroots
mat the community Crusader grassroots
mat the community Crusader grassroots nonprofit leader social entrepreneurship
nonprofit leader social entrepreneurship
nonprofit leader social entrepreneurship poster child what I needed was a nudge
poster child what I needed was a nudge
poster child what I needed was a nudge what I needed was permission permission
what I needed was permission permission
what I needed was permission permission to see myself in a new way ultimately
to see myself in a new way ultimately
to see myself in a new way ultimately that came from Deborah Deborah is the
that came from Deborah Deborah is the
that came from Deborah Deborah is the director of the action research center
director of the action research center
director of the action research center and I was working for her that summer
and I was working for her that summer
and I was working for her that summer know anyone that knows Deborah knows you
know anyone that knows Deborah knows you
know anyone that knows Deborah knows you don’t really work for her you work with
don’t really work for her you work with
don’t really work for her you work with her but maybe better son Deborah works
her but maybe better son Deborah works
her but maybe better son Deborah works with you she has an ability to come
with you she has an ability to come
with you she has an ability to come alongside your project nudging it
alongside your project nudging it
alongside your project nudging it shaping it forming it and you at the
shaping it forming it and you at the
shaping it forming it and you at the same time Deborah was the first person
same time Deborah was the first person
same time Deborah was the first person to say yes I give you permission to be a
to say yes I give you permission to be a
to say yes I give you permission to be a community leader the first person to say
community leader the first person to say
community leader the first person to say yes I give you permission to make this
yes I give you permission to make this
yes I give you permission to make this happen and the first person to say yes
happen and the first person to say yes
happen and the first person to say yes to this kind of crazy to a library idea
to this kind of crazy to a library idea
to this kind of crazy to a library idea and along the way there were many more
and along the way there were many more
and along the way there were many more guests people people who breathed
guests people people who breathed
guests people people who breathed positive energy into the project who
positive energy into the project who
positive energy into the project who opened doors connected corrected and
opened doors connected corrected and
opened doors connected corrected and perfected the tool library there was
perfected the tool library there was
perfected the tool library there was Sharon Rick Robert Katie Rose
Sharon Rick Robert Katie Rose
Sharon Rick Robert Katie Rose Danny Todd John and so many more people
Danny Todd John and so many more people
Danny Todd John and so many more people and so the takeaway here is find your
and so the takeaway here is find your
and so the takeaway here is find your yes people build your team and surround
yes people build your team and surround
yes people build your team and surround yourself with those that give you
yourself with those that give you
yourself with those that give you permission they’ll give you permission
permission they’ll give you permission
permission they’ll give you permission to be great they’ll give you permission
to be great they’ll give you permission
to be great they’ll give you permission to see yourself in a new way and then
to see yourself in a new way and then
to see yourself in a new way and then give you permission
give you permission
give you permission to ultimately take your ideas and make
to ultimately take your ideas and make
to ultimately take your ideas and make them happen no ideas we have them all
them happen no ideas we have them all
them happen no ideas we have them all the time right they float around in our
the time right they float around in our
the time right they float around in our head and they usually come out as
head and they usually come out as
head and they usually come out as questions like wouldn’t it be cool if
questions like wouldn’t it be cool if
questions like wouldn’t it be cool if but what if there was a thing that or
but what if there was a thing that or
but what if there was a thing that or wouldn’t it be so much better if only
wouldn’t it be so much better if only
wouldn’t it be so much better if only but a lot of times that’s about as far
but a lot of times that’s about as far
but a lot of times that’s about as far as we go into actually making them loyal
as we go into actually making them loyal
as we go into actually making them loyal with the Tool Library I was determined
with the Tool Library I was determined
with the Tool Library I was determined not to just let it be a fleeting thought
not to just let it be a fleeting thought
not to just let it be a fleeting thought that idea floating in my head I had to
that idea floating in my head I had to
that idea floating in my head I had to give it somewhere to land I had to take
give it somewhere to land I had to take
give it somewhere to land I had to take that idea down from where only I could
that idea down from where only I could
that idea down from where only I could experience it and had to put it
experience it and had to put it
experience it and had to put it somewhere that others could interact
somewhere that others could interact
somewhere that others could interact with it too and so true to my millennial
with it too and so true to my millennial
with it too and so true to my millennial roots made a Facebook page and built a
roots made a Facebook page and built a
roots made a Facebook page and built a website and had a friend designed me a
website and had a friend designed me a
website and had a friend designed me a logo and while these are by no means
logo and while these are by no means
logo and while these are by no means earth-shattering groundbreaking things
earth-shattering groundbreaking things
earth-shattering groundbreaking things what they did was they gave the Tool
what they did was they gave the Tool
what they did was they gave the Tool Library and identity to library wasn’t
Library and identity to library wasn’t
Library and identity to library wasn’t even a real thing at this point but it
even a real thing at this point but it
even a real thing at this point but it now had a face it had a name and it had
now had a face it had a name and it had
now had a face it had a name and it had a landing page even though we had no
a landing page even though we had no
a landing page even though we had no idea where its physical location would
idea where its physical location would
idea where its physical location would ultimately be we now had a virtual
ultimately be we now had a virtual
ultimately be we now had a virtual location that anyone in the world could
location that anyone in the world could
location that anyone in the world could enter and so next time you hear yourself
enter and so next time you hear yourself
enter and so next time you hear yourself ask one of those questions grab it pull
ask one of those questions grab it pull
ask one of those questions grab it pull it down and you give it somewhere to
it down and you give it somewhere to
it down and you give it somewhere to land you have a great idea but you don’t
land you have a great idea but you don’t
land you have a great idea but you don’t know where to even start start here make
know where to even start start here make
know where to even start start here make that idea look and feel so real at the
that idea look and feel so real at the
that idea look and feel so real at the conversation shifts from wouldn’t that
conversation shifts from wouldn’t that
conversation shifts from wouldn’t that be super cool – that is super cool now
be super cool – that is super cool now
be super cool – that is super cool now when we picture our ideas we usually see
when we picture our ideas we usually see
when we picture our ideas we usually see them in their best and final phase I
them in their best and final phase I
them in their best and final phase I don’t think we normally picture our
don’t think we normally picture our
don’t think we normally picture our projects in that in-between phase in the
projects in that in-between phase in the
projects in that in-between phase in the awkward we have a tiny closet and a
awkward we have a tiny closet and a
awkward we have a tiny closet and a handful of donated tools phase and so
handful of donated tools phase and so
handful of donated tools phase and so when we go to actually make our idea of
when we go to actually make our idea of
when we go to actually make our idea of real that gap seems insurmountable how
real that gap seems insurmountable how
real that gap seems insurmountable how am I supposed to go from nothing
am I supposed to go from nothing
am I supposed to go from nothing – what I have in my head we get hung up
– what I have in my head we get hung up
– what I have in my head we get hung up on the fact that we can’t create it
on the fact that we can’t create it
on the fact that we can’t create it exactly how we see it right now we stop
exactly how we see it right now we stop
exactly how we see it right now we stop before we even get started because we
before we even get started because we
before we even get started because we decide we’ll hold out until everything
decide we’ll hold out until everything
decide we’ll hold out until everything falls into place
falls into place
falls into place in our mind we see a day when the money
in our mind we see a day when the money
in our mind we see a day when the money and the time and the expertise will all
and the time and the expertise will all
and the time and the expertise will all line up perfectly and we tell ourselves
line up perfectly and we tell ourselves
line up perfectly and we tell ourselves that’s when we’ll seize the day and I
that’s when we’ll seize the day and I
that’s when we’ll seize the day and I was no different in my mind what I saw
was no different in my mind what I saw
was no different in my mind what I saw was a full-blown hardware store I didn’t
was a full-blown hardware store I didn’t
was a full-blown hardware store I didn’t see this sheet of pegboard with just a
see this sheet of pegboard with just a
see this sheet of pegboard with just a few hammers we didn’t have the money to
few hammers we didn’t have the money to
few hammers we didn’t have the money to rent a commercial space right away we
rent a commercial space right away we
rent a commercial space right away we didn’t have the time either if we waited
didn’t have the time either if we waited
didn’t have the time either if we waited too long the idea it would become stale
too long the idea it would become stale
too long the idea it would become stale the momentum would be lost so we had to
the momentum would be lost so we had to
the momentum would be lost so we had to embrace the awkward phase we had to find
embrace the awkward phase we had to find
embrace the awkward phase we had to find value in the awkward phase the awkward
value in the awkward phase the awkward
value in the awkward phase the awkward phase did was it gave us a chance to
phase did was it gave us a chance to
phase did was it gave us a chance to assess the long-term viability of the
assess the long-term viability of the
assess the long-term viability of the project to assess the scope and the
project to assess the scope and the
project to assess the scope and the magnitude of what we were truly
magnitude of what we were truly
magnitude of what we were truly undertaking and so while your end goal
undertaking and so while your end goal
undertaking and so while your end goal might look a whole lot different than
might look a whole lot different than
might look a whole lot different than where your means allow you to start
where your means allow you to start
where your means allow you to start there’s value there to embrace that now
there’s value there to embrace that now
there’s value there to embrace that now at some point either from the get-go
at some point either from the get-go
at some point either from the get-go but most likely as you start to leave
but most likely as you start to leave
but most likely as you start to leave the awkward phase this project is going
the awkward phase this project is going
the awkward phase this project is going to become very real and our lives in
to become very real and our lives in
to become very real and our lives in their current form are full of
their current form are full of
their current form are full of commitments they’re full of obligations
commitments they’re full of obligations
commitments they’re full of obligations maybe that’s a family or a job or school
maybe that’s a family or a job or school
maybe that’s a family or a job or school or all of the above but chances are this
or all of the above but chances are this
or all of the above but chances are this new project this new nail very real
new project this new nail very real
new project this new nail very real thing it’s probably not already baked
thing it’s probably not already baked
thing it’s probably not already baked into your life chances are it’s going to
into your life chances are it’s going to
into your life chances are it’s going to disrupt your schedule your flow your
disrupt your schedule your flow your
disrupt your schedule your flow your routine maybe that new maybe that
routine maybe that new maybe that
routine maybe that new maybe that project you’ve been working on at your
project you’ve been working on at your
project you’ve been working on at your job is starting to gain traction and
job is starting to gain traction and
job is starting to gain traction and require overtime maybe that small
require overtime maybe that small
require overtime maybe that small business you’ve been trying to get off
business you’ve been trying to get off
business you’ve been trying to get off the ground starts to require night and
the ground starts to require night and
the ground starts to require night and weekend
weekend
weekend for me it was the balancing and the
for me it was the balancing and the
for me it was the balancing and the juggling and the multitasking of school
juggling and the multitasking of school
juggling and the multitasking of school and college soccer and late night work
and college soccer and late night work
and college soccer and late night work shifts now I had an extra 20 hours a
shifts now I had an extra 20 hours a
shifts now I had an extra 20 hours a week a volunteer coordinating staffing
week a volunteer coordinating staffing
week a volunteer coordinating staffing store hours sorting donations developing
store hours sorting donations developing
store hours sorting donations developing workshops and all sorts of other things
workshops and all sorts of other things
workshops and all sorts of other things dwelling on that would have been enough
dwelling on that would have been enough
dwelling on that would have been enough to stop this thing in its tracks well
to stop this thing in its tracks well
to stop this thing in its tracks well what I learned was to brace for
what I learned was to brace for
what I learned was to brace for disruption not to focus on it to
disruption not to focus on it to
disruption not to focus on it to mentally prepare for the feeling of
mentally prepare for the feeling of
mentally prepare for the feeling of imbalance and unsettledness in my day
imbalance and unsettledness in my day
imbalance and unsettledness in my day but not to let it drive my day the
but not to let it drive my day the
but not to let it drive my day the mental game of learning to adjust and
mental game of learning to adjust and
mental game of learning to adjust and then readjust and then readjust some
then readjust and then readjust some
then readjust and then readjust some more to run with it on the fly that
more to run with it on the fly that
more to run with it on the fly that takes time so brace for disruption but
takes time so brace for disruption but
takes time so brace for disruption but don’t let it be the reason that you
don’t let it be the reason that you
don’t let it be the reason that you don’t try pretty soon you’ll find out
don’t try pretty soon you’ll find out
don’t try pretty soon you’ll find out that it becomes embedded it becomes your
that it becomes embedded it becomes your
that it becomes embedded it becomes your new routine so let your project fill the
new routine so let your project fill the
new routine so let your project fill the nooks and crannies of your day or be
nooks and crannies of your day or be
nooks and crannies of your day or be more intentional and give it a chunk of
more intentional and give it a chunk of
more intentional and give it a chunk of your schedule chances are this new
your schedule chances are this new
your schedule chances are this new project will probably add more time to
project will probably add more time to
project will probably add more time to your day results in less sleep during
your day results in less sleep during
your day results in less sleep during the week but from my experience it also
the week but from my experience it also
the week but from my experience it also leads to an often untapped energy source
leads to an often untapped energy source
leads to an often untapped energy source called passion and maybe that’s the
called passion and maybe that’s the
called passion and maybe that’s the biggest lesson here involved passion and
biggest lesson here involved passion and
biggest lesson here involved passion and we talk about it very generically all
we talk about it very generically all
we talk about it very generically all the time we say things like you should
the time we say things like you should
the time we say things like you should pursue your passion and we ask things
pursue your passion and we ask things
pursue your passion and we ask things like what are you passionate about and
like what are you passionate about and
like what are you passionate about and we usually get very generic responses
we usually get very generic responses
we usually get very generic responses like I’m passionate about art or music
like I’m passionate about art or music
like I’m passionate about art or music or sports or business but to me a lot of
or sports or business but to me a lot of
or sports or business but to me a lot of times that translates into I’m not
times that translates into I’m not
times that translates into I’m not really sure and that is perfectly okay
really sure and that is perfectly okay
really sure and that is perfectly okay if you had asked Madeleine what his
if you had asked Madeleine what his
if you had asked Madeleine what his passions were at the beginning of
passions were at the beginning of
passions were at the beginning of sophomore year there’s definitely no
sophomore year there’s definitely no
sophomore year there’s definitely no chance
chance
chance he says tool lending it would probably
he says tool lending it would probably
he says tool lending it would probably be something more like an I don’t know
be something more like an I don’t know
be something more like an I don’t know response but maybe that’s exactly how it
response but maybe that’s exactly how it
response but maybe that’s exactly how it needed to be maybe by not already
needed to be maybe by not already
needed to be maybe by not already defining the things that I cared about
defining the things that I cared about
defining the things that I cared about that created the perfect set of
that created the perfect set of
that created the perfect set of circumstances to be open to a new idea
circumstances to be open to a new idea
circumstances to be open to a new idea so be weary of the pressure to
so be weary of the pressure to
so be weary of the pressure to categorize and identify your passions
categorize and identify your passions
categorize and identify your passions the things you care about
the things you care about
the things you care about if you think something’s cool just
if you think something’s cool just
if you think something’s cool just explore it
explore it
explore it sometimes your passions have a strange
sometimes your passions have a strange
sometimes your passions have a strange way of revealing themselves and so I
way of revealing themselves and so I
way of revealing themselves and so I urge you find your yes people give your
urge you find your yes people give your
urge you find your yes people give your ideas somewhere to land embrace the
ideas somewhere to land embrace the
ideas somewhere to land embrace the awkward phase brace for disruption
awkward phase brace for disruption
awkward phase brace for disruption explore cool ideas but most importantly
explore cool ideas but most importantly
explore cool ideas but most importantly visit your local Tool Library thank you
”
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