Board 75: Establishing a Tech Tool Library with Instructional Resources at an Academic Institution

The Marston Science Library (MSL) at the University of Florida (UF) has compiled a diverse tool library equipped with tech tools and hand tools for check-out to any UF student and use at either the library or outside locations. The objective of this collection is to foster a sense of self sufficiency and sustainability among its primary users, science and engineering students. The intent is to cultivate an active learning environment and a new community of practice within the library through access to tools. As a trial of this new service, MSL made the following tools available for a 1-week check-out: computer repair kits, multimeters, precision screwdriver sets, soldering kits, digital calipers, laser levels, Dremel rotary tool kits, hand drills and bits, and homeowner tool kits. The tools are housed in rolling tools carts and are cataloged for check-out at the library service desk. Promotion for the new tool library included in-library displays, featuring on the library’s homepage, printed book marks, and articles in the university newspaper. LibGuides were developed to provide instructions, safety protocols, and links to how-to videos and other instructional online resources and hands-on demonstrations were offered throughout the semester. A preliminary assessment of tool check-outs was conducted, the results of which identified the strengths of the tool-library forum, as well as opportunities for improvement. This paper accompanies a poster presented at the 2019 American Society for Engineering Education conference in Tampa, Florida and provides a discussion of the onesemester trial of the tool library at UF. Background/Literature Review Tool libraries work just like regular libraries but instead of loaning books to patrons, they loan tools. Tool libraries have existed in the U.S. for over 50 years1, with the first tool lending library founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1976.2 One of the oldest and largest tool libraries is in Berkeley, California at the public library, which started in 1979 and has over 3,500 tools available for check-out.3 Some tool libraries missions are to rebuild communities struck by natural disasters. Other tool libraries were established to support community endeavors such as neighborhood redevelopment and community gardens.4 Research has shown that there is an interest in a “Library of Things” and that patrons want access to items and workshops for their use.5 As a large public university, UF has an enrollment of around 55,000 students, of which some 10,000 are associated with the 9 departments, 15 degree programs, and 20 centers and institutes within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. About two-thirds of the engineering students are undergraduates and all are required to have a laptop computer.6 Students’ devices, whether laptops, smartphones, wearables, or tablets, experience a significant amount of wear-and-tear and require maintenance and repair. Students often ask the MSL staff about the availability of tools that students may use to repair personal technology devices, and to create objects for class, home, or research projects. To meet this need, MSL used endowment