What We’re All About

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Our Mission

The Denver Tool Library is an inclusive nonprofit providing equitable access to DIY tools, skills, and space through community-powered sharing, education, and collaboration.

Our Vision

We envision a future where tool access is not a barrier to participation, creativity, or self-sufficiency. A future where communities share what they have, support one another’s growth, and are equipped to shape their environments, expand their opportunities, and strengthen collective well-being.

Our Values

Equitable Access

Access to tools, knowledge, and space should not be limited by income, experience, identity, or background.

We actively work to reduce barriers (through our programs, pricing, policies, and partnerships) and continually examine how power, privilege, and resources are distributed within our organization and the broader community.

Shared Resources & Collective Care

We believe in sharing as a practical and powerful way to expand access.

By pooling resources, we create abundance where scarcity once existed. We take collective responsibility for maintaining, respecting, and sustaining what we share, both inside DTL and across our communities.

Education & Empowerment

Skills build confidence, agency, and opportunity.

We create pathways for people to learn, teach, and grow. We recognize that knowledge is not owned, but shared, and that empowerment comes from both gaining skills and having access to use them.

Inclusive Community

Everyone deserves to participate without fear of judgment or exclusion.

We foster environments where people feel respected, supported, and able to show up as they are. This extends to how we engage as staff, members, teachers, and partners across Denver.

Creativity & Expression

Making is a form of problem-solving, storytelling, and connection.

We value creativity in all its forms and support people in bringing ideas to life, whether practical, artistic, or experimental, through access to tools and community.

DIY & Self-Determination

People have the capacity to build, repair, and shape their own lives.

We support self-reliance not as isolation, but as interdependence - where individuals gain skills while being part of a network that shares knowledge, support, and resources.

Sustainability & Stewardship

Repairing, reusing, and sharing are essential to a more sustainable future.

We reduce waste and environmental impact through our practices, and we steward our tools, space, and relationships with long-term care in mind.

Learning Through Doing (and Failing)

Growth comes from experimentation, iteration, and resilience.

We celebrate both success and failure as part of the learning process, creating a culture where people feel safe to try, make mistakes, and try again. We do this in the shop, in our programs, and in how we evolve as an organization.

Transparency & Fairness

Trust is built through clarity, consistency, and accountability.

We strive to make decisions in ways that are transparent, participatory when possible, and grounded in our values of equity and sustainability.

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What are People Sayin' about the Denver Tool Library?

"Best place ever!!! If you're remodeling your home and you're not a member of the Tool Library, you're wrong!" - Deke

"I can't say enough great things about the people there... but I'll try - They're friendly, helpful and always excited about whatever project you happen to be working on." - Anon

"I find myself coming up with new projects just to use the cool stuff I find here." - Cherie

"As a renter, you guys are exactly what i needed to make a home in a place where I couldn't afford to buy a house. from that very first day, I always felt welcomed and part of a family, rather than some woman who ‘must certainly be lost’ in the tool department. thanks for being here!" - Anna

"One of Denver's best resources! Don't go to to the hardware store for a speedy tool purchase or rental. Get a tool library membership!" - Marie

"I was so excited to finally get my membership. Staff was great! It literally took 2 minutes online and 2 minutes in store to get started. I was in and out in 15 minutes with all the tools (4) I needed to finish a lawn seeding job. I checked out a landscape rake. Would have cost $40 at hardware store since my neighbors didn’t have one or the job would have been much more difficult without it. Can’t wait to go back."

"Legitimately the best resource in Denver for anyone who likes making things, owns a house, or just needs tools sometimes!" - Anon

"Anyone who has had to use a butter knife for a screw driver knows the value of a place like this." - Mara

"As an artist, The Denver Tool Library has allowed me to create pieces I've had sitting in my idea book for years. I had never had access to all the appropriate tools it takes to build my projects and when I found the DTL I was beyond excited. Along with providing access to a wide variety of tools, there are also some super awesome people that work there whom are all very knowledgeable and helpful. The DTL is AMAZING!!!" - Jon

"Denver Tool Library is a great place to gain access to tools you might need for home repairs, basic construction, and woodworking projects. The yearly membership pays for itself if you check out two large power tools." - Rachel

"The Denver Tool Library has been saved me SO much money in my first year of home ownership. Their tool selection has grown substantially in the last year and continues to amaze me. I plan on having a membership well into the future, even as I acquire more of my own tools." - Jordan

"What a magical place full of creativity, enthusiasm, community, and hard work. Can't wait to make a family donation." - Maureen

"The selection of tools you get access to, all for one annual fee is ridiculously awesome. I know I've spent more on a renting a single tool from Home Depot and you don't have to be stressful and rushed. You get the tools for long enough to actually do something!" - Anon

"Very organized and complete collection of tools. I needed a few items to finish building a fence. They had everything I needed and I was in and out of there in a snap! Great job, DTL!" - Lindsay

"Love this concept! We are happy to be members. Everyone who I have encountered here has been awesome! I am looking forward to taking one of their classes." - Kelli

"Invaluable resource! DTL has nearly everything I've needed for multi-faceted remodel projects. Tools I would never purchase and are costly to rent. Sarah is great and always has a smile. It is terribly useful from this supporter’s point of view. Thx DTL" - Bruce

"All in all, I would recommend this to everyone I know... and I have! This is the place to get a membership if you have ever had to borrow tools from your dad, or neighbor, or god forbid... rent one!" - Anon

"A fantastic resource for homeowners, crafty people... anyone really. Why buy a tool if you only need it once? Borrow it here. From sewing machines and hammers to pneumatic drills and pitchforks... there are so many possibilities." - Anon

"Such an amazing place! A cheap membership for access to all the tools to build your hopes and dreams:)" - Montana

"It's a deal. For less than the cost of one power tool, you get access to hundreds of tools." - Anon

"This is an exceptional community effort I hope everyone can get behind!" - Brenda

 "Thank you! Borrowed a few tools to install Pergo floors. Looks great, and now, I don't have a zillion tools in my house." - Rayana

"Awesome, convenient, friendly, cool." - Evan

"Simple. Friendly. Community. Excited to be a member." - Kenneth

"Fantastic idea. Amazing people. Super useful." - Daniel

"Everything I've ever wanted. And the staff are super attractive." - Garrett