International Repair Day: meet the Maintenance Team
The 19th of October marks International Repair Day, when circular initiatives across the globe celebrate the power of repair to strengthen communities, reduce our environmental impact, and learn new skills.
Repair is at the heart of what we do at Glasgow Tool Library, providing the community with the equipment to make, do, and mend items that will last them for life. But beyond supporting our members’ DIY projects, repair also plays a key role in keeping our tool library running smoothly and safely behind the scenes.

Our Maintenance Team ensures that more than 800 tools on offer at our library are working at peak performance. As most of our equipment is donated, the volunteers check over the second-hand items and then monitor tools when then return from community loans thereafter. Every week, the team meets to diagnose issues and perform repairs, as well as doing monthly PAT tests to keep all electricals functioning safely.

Our repair volunteers come from all walks of life, with backgrounds in everything from engineering to fine art. Their motivations for joining GTL are equally diverse: some want to tackle our society’s throw-away culture, while others are keen to pick up new skills that will complement their existing technical know-how.
Armand, a former stage manager, points to the satisfaction of wrestling with, and solving, a mechanical problem as his favourite part of working on repairs. “I always try to repair something before I throw it out. I am like a dog with a bone: I won’t give up until I can fix it,” he says.

Armand joined the Maintenance Team earlier this year to put the electrical skills that he had developed at work to good use in the community. He explains: “I was always interested in electronics, so I had some DIY experience that I could apply at the library. Being part of a community service like this, you get a lot of people that are very thankful for our work here, so it is nice to see your repair work directly help others”.
We are always on the look out for more people to help us maintain and repair our tools! If you would like to lend your skills to the Maintenance Team then please sign up here.
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