We’re always grateful to friends of the OTL who help us spread the word about the benefits of the sharing economy to those in our community! Below are some recent features of us in local print, radio, television, blogs and other online media:
The OTL was featured by the EZVid Video Wiki as an international example of a tool lending library, along with a TEDx talk from Lawrence Alvarez, co-founder of the Toronto Tool Library.
Peter Szperling, CTVNewsOttawa.ca | February 14, 2020
"The Tinkering School PD Day Camp allows children to leave with a completed project at the end of the day, while learning how to use a variety of tools."
"The Ottawa Tool Library is expanding at Makerspace North. Three years since setting up shop, the OTL is adding 250 sq. feet of workshop space to meet demand."
Bettina Vollmerhausen at the OTF Knowledge Centre | October 20, 2018
"We understand that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged about our collective environmental impact, or be unsure of how to promote change. We’re very proud to be featured with a variety of friends from various other great community organizations about how we each work to divert waste; in the case of the OTL, we share, repair, and swap."
"Since last spring, the tool lending library has been hosting free events where skilled volunteers help visitors learn to fix everything from small appliances to musical instruments and vintage video games. But a spinoff event in January that focused specifically on clothing revealed an appetite in the community for mending skills in particular."
Media Resources
Want to feature the OTL on radio, television or social media? Below you’ll find some resources like a high-resolution logo, several photos of our space, and more. Feel free to browse our website to learn more about us, take a virtual tour, review our prices and fees, and some of our hosted events. Still want to learn more or schedule an interview? Contact us!
As you may know, at the end of November, we had to halt our operations and store all of our tools, benches, materials and more. We put the call to our volunteers, members and supporters that we urgently needed to move. Our thanks to local media outlets, community newspapers, and everyone else who helped spread the word via social media.
We’re so thankful for the outpouring of support – from community groups, businesses, and generous individuals – who contributed their brawn, talents, transport, storage, and more. With your help, all of our inventory and stuff is safely stored with our friends at Dymon Storage, Beyond the Pale Brewing, Brezach Solutions, McGuire Agency, and Just Food. Thank you to everyone who responded to the call … we truly couldn’t have done it without you.
A Continued Hibernation & Lockdown 🐻❄️
For the moment, our tools are in storage. We did managed to continue with some of our workshops in December thanks to KJP Select Hardwoods, and our Tinkering School thanks to Ottawa School of Art. However, the latest lockdown has also put these efforts on hold. Our webstore is offline, but we’re examining ways to return to offer online merchandise and surplus tools during our closure. Our series of Repair Cafés remain suspended until we can host them safely.
We’re very sorry for the inconvenience our closure has obviously caused for our members are our community. Thanks to everyone for your patience and support. Most importantly, the OTL will return. We’ve always been solvent and paid our bills, but the outpouring of support in December has highlighted the value that you, our friends and neighbours, put on access to the tools, advice and skills we provide to the community.
Space Quest! 🚀👩🚀🔭
We’d already begun looking at different spaces before we had to move, but affordable light commercial warehouse space is a rarity in Ottawa. Our operations necessitate certain parameters: ground level, high ceilings, accessible by bus and transit, parking, and accessible to those with mobility issues.
So, the OTL continues to look for a new space to resume operations as soon as possible in the new year. Ideally, we’re seeking the following:
1,200-1,500 sq ft of ground level, accessible unfinished space with a large entrance door (either a wide person door, or an overhead garage door, or both).
Adjacent and free parking
Affordable rent of $10-$15/sq ft (plus utilities).
The space would ideally also allow for a small workshop (300-500 sq ft) to be set up to host our many DIY workshops and seminars.
Centrally located, preferably West of Centretown, as many of our members and volunteers are located in the area bounded by Bronson, the Ottawa River, Greenbank and Baseline.
We’re working with a broker to scour the city and have toured a lot of spaces in Ottawa, but haven’t yet found a suitable home. Given the low city-wide availability, our best bet is to learn about spaces before they’re listed. Do you have a suitable space for the OTL in Ottawa, or know someone who might? Contact us.
We’re also appealing to local community groups, social enterprises or non-profits who may be interested in co-locating with us in a larger space. We’re most interested in collaborating with those involved in the sharing/circular economy, promoting environmental sustainability, or teaching skills in our community. If you and your organization are interested, please get in touch.
What’s Next & How to Help 💪🏽
Foremost, if you want to be the first to know about the OTL’s next chapter, subscribe to our newsletter. We’ll do our best to keep you updated about our space hunt, programming, webstore, and what’s next for the OTL.
Not everyone has a spare warehouse to fill, but there are many other ways to show your support:
If you’d like to help us fit up a new space and move in, or regularly volunteer with our operations or behind the scenes, join our volunteer list.
If you’re making, building or fixing at home, be sure to mention us (@yowtoollibrary) and tag #otlmade to show us what you’re working on. After all, #makersgonnamake.
