Our Mission

The Denver Tool Library is a non-profit that removes barriers to DIY tools, skills, and workspace through community-powered sharing, education, and collaboration.

Our Vision

We envision a future where tool access is not a barrier to communities sharing resources and supporting one another's growth. We want everyone to have what they need to shape their surroundings, expand their opportunities, and strengthen collective well-being.

Our Values

1. EQUITABLE ACCESS

We work to remove barriers to DIY resources, because access to tools, skills, and space shouldn't determine who gets to care for their surroundings and bring their ideas to life.

2. PARTICIPATION

We know our community is strongest when people actively contribute, take ownership, collaborate with one another, and help shape DTL together.

3. LEARNING BY DOING

We love to learn through hands-on experience, curiosity, experimentation, and the courage to make mistakes and keep growing.

4. CREATIVITY

We believe everyone has the capacity to imagine, create, solve problems, and actively shape the world around them.

5. STEWARDSHIP & SUSTAINIBILITY

We care for our tools, resources, people, our organization, and the environment with a long-term perspective, making decisions that strengthen our community today while ensuring it can thrive for generations to come.

TOOL LIBRARY
CLASSES
WORKSHOP

What Are People Saying About the Denver Tool Library?

"What a fantastic resource this place is, staffed by incredibly generous and skilled people. I had quite an extensive and challenging project: building a complex wheelchair ramp and shower platform for my new apartment... Before finding this place, we were completely stuck. The project required professional-grade tools and skill, but no contractor was willing to take it on, and the cuts were far too complex for a big-box store or for us to handle alone. Not only that, but we urgently needed the ramp completed so I could safely take a shower. Once we found the Denver Tool Library, though, the work was completed in just a few hours and saved us hundreds of dollars."

— Google Review

"The ability to be on the scholarship has allowed me access to classes that have empowered my knowledge and confidence of power tools and sewing—both of which I had absolutely never done before! Just knowing you can unlocks self-belief and the courage to try new things."

— Financial Assistance Recipient

"No gatekeeping here. We get a lot of women and a lot of queer folks. We get a lot of people who don’t know where to start and have felt intimidated coming into a typically [masculine] space. And then they come in here and it’s not scary."

— Green America

“I am an independent artist working primarily in screen printing, and I build all of my own custom equipment to save money and enable my specific process. I turn my illustrations into tees and posters that I print inside my small apartment, but my current living situation doesn't have space for loud, messy building projects. Having access to proper power tools and a workspace through the Tool Library greatly enables my art-making.”

— Financial Assistance Recipient

“DTL has become much more than a borrowing hub for tools. It has grown into a thriving community center dedicated to empowering residents through skill-sharing and sustainable living.”

— Westword

"I loved the accessibility of the class. There was no assumption of prior knowledge and no judgement. I really needed a space like this to get introduced to tools. I was never taught things like this as a kid and after the class I see tools as just another thing I can learn without the mental block that they’re ‘not for me.’"

— Student Class Review (Ladies & Gentlethems: Power Tool Petting Zoo)

"DTL is awesome! Moving to a new state and home is expensive as it is, never mind having to piece together your own toolkit. I've saved hundreds if not thousands thanks to the library and took on projects I wouldn't have otherwise due to the barrier to entry. Truly a fantastic resource for the community!"

— Reddit

"Buying tools I might only use once feels wasteful—not just for my budget, but for storage space and the planet in general. I'd way rather share resources and create less waste, which is exactly what I love about the Tool Library."

— Financial Assistance Recipient

“There's probably a lot of people out there who think they’re not handy, or that they can't do these things themselves. And we really want them to come and get with another member of the community who has these skills and learn how easy it is, how capable they are.”

— CPR News

"As a queer person, I have not always felt like these kinds of hands-on building spaces were made for me or that I already 'belong' in them... Being able to use the Denver Tool Library instead of purchasing tools I may only need for one project keeps my savings intact for a future home."

— Financial Assistance Recipient

"I liked how she built the space for the class and made sure we all were knowledgeable about and comfortable with the tools and the project itself. I liked the people who attended the class. And, with all of these things combined, I felt confident and genuinely gleeful to try something I never had before: metalworking... I definitely felt like a badass walking out. And, more than that, I felt proud of something I made."

— Student Class Review (Metalsmithing)

"I've only been a member here for a month and so far have just checked out lawn & garden tools. However, I'm blown away by how kind and welcoming the entire staff always is and have made every visit the highlight of my day! They are the most genuine and wholesome organization and am so grateful they are helping to make Denver a better place."

— Google Review

“I have a cognitive and learning disability, which can make learning new skills more challenging... Working with metal helps my mental health, gives me confidence, and provides valuable social connection in a supportive classroom environment. These classes help me work toward my goals, complete projects I care about, and build a future where I can support myself more fully.”

— Financial Assistance Recipient

“I’ve been a member of DTL for the last 18 months. They’ve saved me literally hundreds of dollars, as I’ve had to renovate half my home after a flood. I can’t say enough good things about the staff, tool selection, and classes. This is one of my favorite community resources in Denver!”

— Google Review