Category Archives: Tool Library

Fair Housing Policy Workshop and Q&A

February 2, 2016CoLab, Housing, Tool Library, UncategorizedJoe Kurtz

FAIR HOUSING POLICY presented by HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal)

Didn’t get a chance to attend the presentation by Katherine Sponaugle educational specialist at HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal) on tenant and landlord rights? Are you a tenant or landlord with a few questions regarding housing policies and responsibilities? We’ll don’t miss the chance to attend this is the presentation and Q&A designed just for you! Learn tenant & landlord rights, landlord-tenant laws, and fair housing guidelines from a Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.) Educational Specialist. A short Q & A session will follow so bring any questions you might have surrounding your place of residence, but not too many, as we don’t want to keep her all night again. #communitycollaboration

When: Tuesday, February 9th @ 6pm

Where: University Heights CoLab [9 W. Northrup Place Buffalo, NY 14214]

How: Register by filling of this google form or by emailing your name, number, zip code, and email to colab@ourheights.org

MLK Day of Service at the Tool Library

January 8, 2016Tool LibraryDarren Cotton

IMG_2859web Come join the University Heights Tool Library and UB’s Office of Student Engagement as we participate our third annual MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 18th from 10AM – Noon. We’ll be working on a variety of indoor tasks – minor construction, painting, shop and basement organizing, and a couple other items. Come out and have some fun! 18+ please

Tool Donation from Craftsman Helps Further Tool Library Mission

December 21, 2015Tool LibraryDarren Cotton

Thanks to an incredibly generous donation from Craftsman Tools, the University Heights Tool Library is now home to $500 worth of new tools. New additions include:

Christmas comes early to the Tool Library with all these brand new tools compliments of Craftsman!

10 amp Orbital Reciprocating Saw
Universal Quick Change Hole Saw Kit
100-PC Accessory Kit
Digital Multimeter
6 Gallon 1.1 HP Oil-Free Air Compressor
3/8 in. x 25 ft. Air Hose, Heavy-Duty
7A 3X21 BELT SANDER
5 pc. Wood Chisel Set
15 amp Corded 7-1/4″ Circular Saw
30 in. Gooseneck Bar

These donations bring the Tool Library’s inventory to just over 1,700 items, which are available to borrow for just $10/year. In addition to helping individuals save money by prioritizing sharing tools over owning them, these new additions to the Tool Library will also help with community projects.

Tool Library volunteer Joe cuts boards for Bailey Fights Blight, a project initiated by the Bailey Avenue Business Association to address vacant and blighted buildings along the Bailey corridor.

The circular saw has already been put to use cutting boards for Bailey Fights Blight, a project working to address issues of blight and disinvestment along Bailey by infusing vacant and underutilized buildings with art. Recently awarded a $2,000 grant for additional public art, the boards being cut today will become the canvas for community-directed murals in the spring.

Villa Maria College fine arts students partnered with the Bailey Avenue Business Association to create this wall mounted mural. It is the first of many public art pieces to go up on Bailey.

Thank you to Craftsman for helping to enable these types of projects and increasing a community’s access to the tools they need to make the change they want to see.

Tool Library Member Forum

December 10, 2015CoLab, Tool LibraryJoe Kurtz

The University Heights Tool Library wants to build a better Buffalo, and they want input from their members on how to build it!

Members are a valued part of what keeps the Tool Library operating and they want help from their members to strategize ways to improve the Tool Library in the short and long term, and how we can all be a part of creating a better Buffalo! Join them as they host their first annual Member Forum on Saturday, December 12th from noon to 4pm in the University Heights CoLab (9 W. Northrup Place). Stop by to chat for a few minutes or stay a few hours. They want to hear from you how they can continue to grow and improve. Refreshments will be provided.

Register Today!

Round Table Discussions

The forum will an open house format, with some structured discussion topics at half an hour intervals. Topics of discussion include:

12:30PM – Membership fees
1:00PM – Hours of operation
1:30PM – Tool reservations
2:00PM – BREAK
2:30PM – Signage
3:00PM – Fundraising
3:30PM – Expansion

Wall-to-Wall Brainstorming

We’re also going to be using the blackboard, whiteboard, and newsprint on the walls of the CoLab to ask you for additional input on the following topics:

Tool wish-list
Storage/organization ideas
Community projects
Classes/workshops
Online functionality
Getting the word out
Partnerships

Sharing Your Tool Library Story

Finally, they’ll have a camera setup in the back room of the Tool Library for any members that would like to share their story about their experience with Tool Library. What tools have you used? How much money has the Tool Library saved you? Why do you choose to borrow tools instead of buy them? What role do you think Tool Libraries can play in a neighborhood?

We think our members are our most powerful advocates, so we’d like to hear from you!

Online Feedback

For those members who are unable to join them on the 12th, they will send out a follow-up email after the forum that will allow you to submit your feedback electronically. We’d like to hear from as many members as possible.

Questions? Please email here!

Tenant & Landlord Rights Workshop on Wednesday, November 18th @ The CoLab

November 16, 2015CoLab, Housing, Tool LibraryJoe Kurtz

Tenant and Landlord Rights Workshop

presented by Housing Opportunities Made Equal

Are you a renter or landlord in need of information pertaining to housing policies and codes? Look no further as the CoLab hosts the perfect workshop for you! Attend a Tenant Rights Workshop on Wednesday, November 18th from 6pm to 7pm in the University Heights CoLab (9 W. Northrup Place Buffalo, NY 14215) and learn about tenant-landlord rights, landlord-tenant laws, and fair housing guidelines from a Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) educational specialist!

When: Wednesday, November 18th from 6pm to 7pm

Where: University Heights CoLab ( 9 W. Northrup Place Buffalo, NY 14215)

How: Register by emailing your name, email, phone, and zip code to coalb@ourheights.org OR by submitting the Google form below. Space is limited so sign up today!

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NEW! Monday Hours at the Tool Library

July 6, 2015Tool LibraryDarren Cotton

The University Heights Tool Library is happy to announce that we’ve now added Monday hours to our line-up!

Our newest volunteer, John, has been taught the ancient Tool Librarian craft, so now the Tool Library will now be open on Mondays from 1:00PM to 5:00PM starting on July 6th!

Did you know the Tool Library is staffed entirely by volunteers?

Our hours of operation depend on members of the community willing to donate their time to a cause they believe in.

If you are interested in help us extend our hours by volunteering a few hours of your time please fill out the volunteer application on our website and we’ll be in touch!