Canada will soon have its first Library of Things

The organization behind the Toronto Tool Library has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for Canada’s first Library of Things. Like a book library, a library of things lends out things like games, DVDs, espresso machines, camping equipment, snowboards, sleds, and yes, tools. In other words, the Toronto Tool Library will be undergoing an upgrade. Calling it The Sharing Depot, they say that

The Sharing Depot will work just like the Public Library and Tool Library – a membership gives you access to hundreds of things you’d love to use once in a while but just don’t want to own. Sharing necessary items with your community is so beneficial: it saves money, de-clutters our homes, strengthens our communities and is better for the environment. We’re #RicherWhenWeShare!

However, they need money to get it off the ground. $30 000 will go towards rent of a location, renovation, and acquisition of things to stock the library. The fundraising campaign was started just 5 days ago and has already raised $5000. They are asking for individual contributions of 5, 10, or 100 dollars (or more, if you’d like). Go to the Indiegogo page if you’d like to contribute. As their hashtag says, we’re richer when we share.

Advertisement

The next market will be on Saturday, March 19th

We will be in the same room at Driftwood Community Centre from 10 am to 3 pm. See you guys there!

Pics of the January Market

By our count, 130 people came to the Jan. 30th market!

Michelle greeting people at the welcome table

That’s our volunteer Brandy in the pink

The table of health and beauty products

We had a large section for toys

Our table for books and other media (but mostly books)

These are the books she took

A box of mirror tiles and its new owner

Lots of knickknacks

An old office calendar

Our volunteer Rosemary on the left

The clothing rack

There were many items at our table for food and kitchenware

Tahoy on the left was a photographer sent by the Downsview Advocate. Juliana on the right was sent by Snapd North York

The lunchtime lull

Our volunteer Greg with Butterfly from JFAAP

This is little Abena

She came in with her little cousin (who is in the pink jacket in the previous picture)

By our count, 130 people came to the market

There was a big spillover from the Vietnamese community’s Lunar New Year celebration in the gymnasium. There were 20 to 30 people from that event who came into our room near the end of the market

Less than 24 hours until the next Really Really Free Market!

Don’t forget that if you want free stuff or want to get rid of your stuff then come to the Driftwood Community Centre at 4401 Jane St from 10 am to 3 pm. You don’t need to bring anything to take anything and only bring items that are clean and in working condition. If you have questions ask a volunteer. See you guys there!

The market is in one week

We will be at the same place as last time: Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane St, from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday January 30th. Please only bring items that are clean and in working condition and no big items unless you leave your contact information with a volunteer. All volunteers will have name tags that say ‘VOLUNTEER’. See you there!

Are you ready for the next Really Really Free Market?

It’s happening in less than two weeks! 10 am to 3 pm at the Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane St. We can’t wait!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1792795317609923/

Toronto will soon have a lending library for musical instruments

First Toronto had just the regular library, which fulfilled its traditional role of lending out books. (And does a fine job doing it too – per capita it’s the busiest library system in the US and Canada.) More recently, the Toronto Tool Library and the Toronto Seed Library were established almost at the some time. With some help from the Tool Library the Kitchen Library got its start. And now there will be a new lending library joining the list. The Globe and Mail reports that Toronto will soon have a library for musical instruments:

A Dec. 14 report to the board of the Toronto Public Library said only final negotiations are left before the launch of a two-year pilot program that will be located first at the Parkdale branch, aimed at adults and children alike.

It seems as if it will be based out of the well-trafficked Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library (and also the same neighbourhood where the first branch of the Toronto Tool Library was established). Perhaps in the future all the different libraries will be consolidated into the public library system? It’s certainly something to be hoped for.

The report is short on details such as the cost, ultimate location, terms of borrowing and so on but that will likely come out with the official announcement. For now, let’s all start doing finger exercises while looking for good instructional videos on YouTube.

The next market will be on January 30th!

We’ve just received the permit for the next North York Really Really Free Market for January 30th. The market will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. Last time we were supposed to close at 2 but the staff at Driftwood thought it was such a great event that they let us stay open longer. This time, though, it’s completely official so everyone can enjoy the market a little longer.

By the way, we still need people to help both before and on the day of the market. If you can help out, send an email to us at northyorkrrfm@gmail.com.

See you in the new year!

Holiday gift swap at the Toronto Tool Library!

It’s likely that there will be no Really Really Free Market in December. However, those of you who want to give and receive with your community for the holidays can go to the basement of the Downsview Library on Saturday, December 12th. The Toronto Tool Library will be holding an Alternative Gift Fair at their Downsview Library branch. Bring 3 or more items that are in ‘giftable’ condition (new or lightly used) and you can exchange them for the same number of goods that others in the community have brought. Everything is accepted, even offers of services such as cooking lessons. Instead of buying more gifts this Christmas, you can share in what your community already has! The Tool Library will also have their 3D printer available so you can even make your own gift if you know how. The event runs from 10 am to 3pm.

Thank you for coming!

By our count 94 people came and participated in the first North York Really Really Free Market on Saturday! Wow! We hope you all gave and received a lot of nice things!

This was taken soon after opening. There were quite a number of people wanting to get in and lay out their items.

We borrowed these signs from the downtown Really Really Free Market. We were originally supposed to close at 2 but the Driftwood Community Centre staff thought it was such a great event and let us stay until 4.

Rosemary at our Welcome Table

Sadly, the two humidifiers in the back went unclaimed.

He found something!

Their family came in and saw the market, then went home and came back with a lot of nice items.

Michelle created the great opening image on our blog.

These students from Humber College were doing a project on the Jane and Finch community.

The Downsview Advocate sent a photographer to cover the event.

Our afternoon volunteers. From left to right are Laura, Shenglong, Yan Zhou, Anna, Ezra, Suzan, Kolby, and Brandon.

Anna liked to try out some of the items.

See you next time!