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Benefits of Membership

Membership has its privileges – with a membership to the Ottawa Tool Library, you will receive unlimited access to our tools, to take them home to work on any practical or creative projects. Minimum age requirement for memberships is 18 years of age.

Save money

Avoid buying new expensive tools and accessories that you’ll only use for one project.

Reclaim Space

Declutter and reclaim space by not storing bulky tools in your garage, basement or shed.

Live Sustainably

Be part of the solution, generate less waste and contribute to a greener future.

Find Community

Gain skills and confidence to undertake new projects with workshops and advice.

How It Works

We use the MyTurn lending platform to track our inventory, memberships and loans. You can become an OTL member in four simple steps:

3. Sign the waivers

Agree to respect the rules, be kind to our tools, and use them safely.

Membership Prices

The OTL has different membership options to suit your needs. Have a short-term project? Our monthly membership gives you access to tools and advice without the commitment. Our annual memberships come in multiple flavours for individuals, households and students. Need on-site access to tools? We now have a new membership that includes access to the OTL WorkSpace during its regular hours. Finally, for non-profits and small businesses we offer an annual group membership for up to five users.

Monthly

$120/month
  • Unlimited access to our tool inventory
  • Save money and space in your home
  • No loan fees on most tools

Annual

$240/year
  • Save 20% on OTL workshops and WorkSpace passes
  • Unlimited access to our tool inventory
  • Save money and space in your home
  • No loan fees on most tools
  • Add a second person from your Household for only $60 more
  • Students enjoy a 20% ($48) discount

Annual+ WorkSpace

$600/year
  • All the benefits of an annual individual membership
  • Plus access to our dedicated OTL WorkSpace!
  • Includes free WorkSpace 101 session

Angel

$1,500/year
😇
  • Support and promote the sharing economy in Ottawa
  • Help to improve our inventory and offerings
  • All the benefits of an annual individual membership
  • Plus access to our dedicated OTL WorkSpace
  • As well as a free WorkSpace 101 session, an OTL t-shirt, and your name on our Supporters Wall!

Organization

$600/year
  • An annual membership for groups and organizations
  • Equip your non-profit, cooperative or small business to succeed
  • Includes up to 5 registered users

All prices are subject to Ontario’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST: 13%).

Can’t afford a regular membership? Volunteer! It’s not only a great way to learn about tools and connect with great people, but you get a free monthly membership for only 8 hours per month. This can be helping at the front desk, at events, with grant writing, creating content for social media and more! Click here to get involved!

No time to volunteer? In a precarious situation? We’ve introduced a pay-what-you-can membership via the OTL Community FundClick here to apply. Please tell us how much you can afford, and how you will benefit from a membership.

Gift Memberships

Want to buy a gift certificate for family and friends? Click here to buy a gift certificate for either an individual monthly ($120+tax) or annual ($240+tax) membership.

Terms of Use

A loan period of one week at a time is permitted when borrowing tools, however, members are encouraged to return tools as soon as they are finished. Members can renew any tool once by phone or email, so long as there is nobody waiting for the tool. Late fees will be charged for all tools returned past the due date.

Our Borrowing Policy

Please read our borrowing policy. You will be required to sign it before borrowing your first tool.

Loan & Late Fees

We charge loan fees on specific specialized tools (e.g. planers, jointers, pressure washers, button makers) to keep them in circulation and well-maintained. We also charge late fees on all overdue tool loans. For more details, consult our fees and prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

The majority of our tool inventory comes from community donations, from people downsizing, moving, or cleaning up basements, sheds, and garages. Anything you want to donate? Contact us!

Only OTL members can borrow tools. We offer individual and group memberships or why not give someone you love a one-of-a-kind gift that lasts all year long.

Our annual membership is less than most rental companies charge for a daily rate for some tools AND we give you unlimited access. Nearly all tools are free to borrow for up to one week (only a couple of high-demand or high-maintenance tools have per-loan fees). We hope to inspire your creativity and help you finish your practical or creative projects.

We use the MyTurn software platform specifically designed as a database for lending libraries. Like a normal library, members must return tools in a set period of time or incur late fees. We work a lot with trust currency. 😉

Yes! Many projects require one or more tools, so feel free to borrow away. We only ask that you leave a few remaining tools on the shelf for other members to borrow. 😉

Yes, members can now reserve tools for their projects. You can learn more about how it works in the MyTurn documentation. When you’re ready, log into MyTurn with your active OTL member account to reserve your tools. You can also contact us if you encounter any issues.

Normal wear and tear of tools is inevitable and we ask members to talk to us about their user experience with the tool when they return it. In extreme cases, members may be charged for damage to equipment. If you are at all unsure about how to safely operate of a tool, there is always a Tool Wizard at the OTL who can walk you through how to use it when you pick it up.

We have a Tool Hospital at the lending library where tools are cared for, fixed, cleaned, and sharpened by experienced volunteers to ensure you get a tool that is in working order. For excess tools we no longer need, we keep the best tools in inventory and in the OTL WorkSpace, we keep other tools on hand to run workshops, and whatever remains we sell to find them new homes and generate revenue for our operations.

For tools that cannot be fixed, we use them for parts and salvage blades, gears, motors and more. Whatever remains is disassembled into its component metals – copper, aluminum, steel – and sold for scrap to recyclers to divert it from landfill. We’re always looking for Tool Doctors if you’d like to help!

Absolutely. Safety and injury prevention is our number one priority. Members are required to sign waivers and must be over the age of 18.

We’re located in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) at 877A Boyd Avenue (entrance off Dobbie Street). Click here for a map.

Yes, but there is an additional cost to access the WorkSpace. You can find a dedicated FAQ for the OTL WorkSpace here.