Harrisburg’s First Tool Library Empowers Neighbors to Build, Fix, and Share
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Asia Tabb
AIRED; October 22, 2025
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A new community resource is taking shape in Harrisburg — and it’s not your typical library. The Harrisburg Tool Library aims to lend out everything from drills and garden shears to crockpots and bubble machines, all in the name of empowerment and community care.
“It is exactly what it sounds like,” said co-founder Veronica Adams. “It’s a library for tools… gardening tools, crockpots, maybe even a telescope. It’s membership-guided, and we’re doing a sliding scale membership drive — open to everyone from zero to $100 a year.”
The idea behind the tool library is simple: sharing resources to make life more affordable and sustainable. Co-founder Dana Ray said it’s about giving people access to the things they need to take care of their homes and communities without breaking the bank. “Every town needs a tool library,” Ray said. “We all need tools to take care of the places where we live… and those materials continue to become more expensive. This is a structure that works really well — in the same way a public library should be a public good.”
For many Harrisburg residents, that public good could make a big difference. Adams noted that 63% of Harrisburg households rent, far above the national average, and nearly 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. “Buying and storing tools is a huge barrier,” Adams said. “If you need to fix up your apartment to get your security deposit back, or if you’re trying to make repairs to an old family home, this library can help. We’re also pretty dedicated to housing security.”
That mission is personal for Adams, who lives in a home built in “quote, 1901.” “I have a lot of projects I need to fix up,” she said with a laugh. “But it’s also about my dedication to the idea of library economy. I truly believe we all have enough if we spread resources. If we share what we have, we can all feel secure and safe in our communities.”
The Harrisburg Tool Library is volunteer-run, with a small team of five to seven neighbors working to build it from the ground up. The founders are still getting their inventory system online and setting up open hours, but they say the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. “You’re watching us build in real time,” Adams joked. “We’re building the train tracks while driving the train — and reading the manual on how to do both.”
Ray said the process will be just like a traditional library: members can browse tools online or in person, check them out, and return them when the job’s done.
Beyond providing tools, the founders envision the space becoming a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community care — from helping a neighbor repair a porch to supporting youth aging out of foster care programs. “We want this community care to echo out exponentially,” Adams said. “When people feel secure, they can do things for their community — like starting a garden or organizing a block party. We want to help make that happen.”
And yes — there will be bubble machines. “That makes a party,” Ray said, smiling. “Especially when you’ve got little kids running around. More bubble machines.”
The Harrisburg Tool Library is located on Third Street and will launch its membership program soon. For updates, visit their website or follow along on social media as they “build the tracks” toward a more connected, hands-on community.
