A tool library is a collection of tools which is maintained for use by members of the library, who may pay a small subscription fee in order to have access to the tool library, although in some communities such libraries are provided as a public service. A tool library can be an extremely useful community asset, and many communities from small to large have a tool library of some sort. If you are curious about whether or not there is a tool library in your area, you can search for “tool library” and your community, and if one doesn't come up, you might want to think about starting one.

There are a number of advantages to a tool library. Many people need specific tools for projects, but wouldn't use those tools otherwise. Instead of spending a large sum of money on a specialized tool which is used once or twice, these people can take advantage of a tool library, which might have everything from table saws to screwdriver sets. Keeping tools in a centralized library encourages frequent and efficient use, with the cost of the tools being carried by all members with their subscription fees or through donations, grants, and community support.

Another reason to use a tool library is space. Many people lack a great deal of space, and tools can start to take up a lot of room as they accumulate. By using a tool lending library, people have all of the advantages of a large workshop, without actually needing to maintain one. This can also be useful for people who are just beginning to explore projects where they might need tools, along with individuals who lack the funds to establish a big workshop. High school drama programs, for example, can utilize a tool library to build sets for an annual production, rather than maintaining such tools on campus.

In addition to public tool libraries, there are also private tool libraries. Some organizations band together with others to create tool libraries for the use of their members exclusively. Nonprofits which engage in nature cleanup, for example, might band together create a big tool library. In this case, members of the public may not be allowed to access the tool library, and the tools in the library would only be used for events organized by the nonprofits who established the library.

The staff at a tool library typically maintain the tools, performing the routine care which keeps them working well, and they may also offer instruction. Some tool libraries lead safety workshops and other public events so that people can learn to use tools in a controlled, safe environment, and they also offer how-to guides for their tools as well.