The Saint John Tool Library, housed at 100 Princess Street, is more than a place to borrow a drill or table saw. It’s a space where skills are shared, neighbours meet, and access replaces ownership. In a notice sent to current and past members this week, the Saint John Tool Library (SJTL) Board announced a significant organizational shift: the library is moving to a fully volunteer‑run model, ending paid staffing and temporarily scaling back operations while it rebuilds capacity.
From staffed service to community‑powered
The change places SJTL more in line with how many tool libraries across Canada operate — volunteer‑driven and community‑supported.
Classes and trades training were the bread and butter of the SJTL, but with less of those events, maintaining regular business hours is unsustainable in the short term. The board is confident though that within four to six months, new volunteers can be recruited to stabilize and eventually expand service again.
In the meantime, members will notice some immediate changes.
Reduced hours, temporarily
As of May 7, 2026, the Tool Library’s borrowing hours are reduced to:
- Wednesdays, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
These hours apply to existing members only. During this transition period, SJTL is pausing new borrowing memberships, though renewals are still permitted if a membership expires before July. The board has set July 7, 2026, as the next official check‑in point to assess whether hours can be expanded as volunteer numbers grow.
Borrowing rules adjusted for flexibility
While the hours to access the SJTL to borrow items have been reduced, the borrowing window is increased. All members now receive a default five‑day borrowing period.
Renewals will still be allowed if a tool has not been reserved, and late fees will be handled with flexibility — provided members communicate ahead of time. With fewer open hours, SJTL volunteers are offering special drop‑off arrangements when needed, reinforcing the library’s emphasis on trust and cooperation.
The workshop remains — with a new model
Perhaps the most notable update involves the Tool Library’s DIY Centre workshop, long considered one of the most fully equipped tool library workshops in the country.
The workshop will remain open, but under a new membership structure. Workshop access will now cost $200 per month, and members will be issued keys for access between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., independent of front‑desk borrowing hours. The workshop will continue to operate under the supervision of shop manager Al “Duke” Blois, with safety orientations remaining mandatory.
Existing workshop add‑ons will no longer auto‑renew. Members who wish to continue using the shop must arrange monthly payment directly and coordinate access with the shop manager.
While this shift represents a higher financial commitment, it also offers greater autonomy and extended access for those who rely on the workshop regularly.
A renewed call for volunteers
At the heart of the transition is a renewed appeal to the community. SJTL has not actively recruited volunteers for several years — because it didn’t need to. That has changed.
The organization is now seeking volunteers for two critical roles:
- Front‑desk support, helping members borrow and return tools during open hours
- Fundraising, as SJTL prepares to organize its first fundraiser in nearly three years this fall
The goal is not just to survive the summer, but to rebuild toward expanded and more flexible hours, ensuring that the Princess Street location remains open and accessible long‑term.
Why this matters to Saint John
In an era of rising costs, shrinking living spaces, and renewed interest in repair and reuse, the Saint John Tool Library plays a quiet but essential role. Every borrowed tool represents money saved, waste reduced, and skills kept local.
For those who believe that access matters more than ownership, the next few months will help determine what the future of the Saint John Tool Library looks like — and who helps build it.
For more information or to volunteer, SJTL invites community members to contact admin@sjtl.ca.
