Nancy and Brian Breedlove visited the Oshkosh Tool Library in mid-July hoping to borrow a hand truck, also called a dolly.
The Oshkosh couple needed to move heavy items out of their garage before workers installed an epoxy coating on the floor.
A story in the Oshkosh Herald pointed the Breedloves to the Oshkosh Tool Library, 300 S. Koeller St., Suite R, in Oshkosh. Nancy Breedlove figured they would stop by before they rented or purchased the equipment they needed.
“We’re grateful that the facility exists and to learn that there’s all kinds of stuff here,” she said.
The Breedloves are among 140 people in the Oshkosh area who are members of the tool library, which opened in September 2025. And the effort is picking up steam: In the month of June, the tool library recorded 51 loans – its largest amount thus far, said volunteer Jacob Klaameyer.
A year of planning
Organizers, including Klaameyer, met at a Repair Cafe in Oshkosh and voiced support for a tool library and makerspace in a community survey. They spent a year making their vision come to life.
The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Klaameyer said its governance structure was intentionally established as an organizer cooperative. That means the volunteers who power the Oshkosh Tool Library have an equal say in the organization’s future, as do its members.
If, for example, organizers found a new space and wanted to relocate the tool library, the decision would come up for a vote during a monthly meeting, Klaameyer said. Monthly meetings are open to the public, and organizers make the Oshkosh Tool Library’s financial records available on its website.
“(For) options that are going to affect everybody, we would engage the membership,” Klaameyer said.
Up and running
The tool library has more than 558 items available for community members to borrow. The most popular items include pressure washers, a wet vacuum and fans. Large pieces of equipment like a 3D printer, a CNC machine and a band saw are available for use, as well.
One of Klaameyer’s favorite spots is the space’s “free materials” section. It’s a wall near the door with drawers of nails, screws, nuts, bolts, washers and all kinds of miscellaneous small parts people can take – free of charge – to complete a project.
And people don’t have to have a project in mind to visit the tool library. The organization hosts free workshops led by volunteers, including sewing machine basics, intro to Linux, bat and butterfly house construction and bike maintenance. Community members can also reserve space at the tool library for meetings or gatherings free of charge.
Volunteer Allegra Van Rossum, of Oshkosh, appreciates learning new skills directly from people at the tool library, rather than turning to the internet.
“I think the best part about it is the social connections between people and the learning … Just having the knowledge of people like Jake or someone who will know ‘Oh you should use this tool’ – I think that’s underrated,” she said.
Collaborative projects
Besides checking items off their own to-do lists, tool library volunteers collaborate on group projects. Their latest effort is called Make a Village. Klaameyer said they’re constructing a microshelter modeled after Conestoga huts used to house people in Eugene, Oregon.
“We started this project because we want to not only have the tools accessible to our community, but also help these tools solve community issues,” he said. “And I just thought it was a great opportunity to both practice woodworking with others, but also have a tool for advocacy for that sort of change in our community.”
Once complete, the microshelter will hit the road on a trailer. Klaameyer wants to show the finished space to local elected officials to see if microshelters could be part of the community’s response to homelessness.
That kind of collaboration makes the effort worthwhile for Klaameyer.
“My favorite part is when people show up and we build things together,” he said.
How to join
People have to be at least 18 years old to become a member of the tool library, and they must live in Winnebago, Outagamie or Fond du Lac counties.
Loans typically run for seven days, though Klaameyer said they can be extended to 14 days.
Members must sign a liability waiver and a tool use agreement.
Tool library organizers maintain a calendar on the Oshkosh Tool Library website with workshop information and open hours for every month. Community members can drop in during open hours to set up an account, complete their registration paperwork and check out equipment.
There’s no cost to join the tool library. However, they appreciate donations, Klaameyer said.
Learn more
Visit the Oshkosh Tool Library during open hours at 300 S. Koeller St., Suite R, Oshkosh. It’s located behind Takiza Mexican Cuisine.
Check https://oshkoshtoollibrary.neocities.org/calendar for a list of upcoming events and monthly hours.
Community organizations in need of tools can contact the Oshkosh Tool Library by email at oshkoshtoollibrary@gmail.com. Klaameyer said the tool library has a surplus of basic tools community groups can take for free.
Donate to the Oshkosh Tool Library online here.
This story is part of Community at Work, an ongoing feature series focused on community organizations that make a difference in northeast Wisconsin. Who should we feature next? Email jzvandenhouten@wisconsinwatch.org.
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