So naturally, when you hear the word library, you likely think of books, right?

But what about a power drill or a hammer?

The Lexington Tool Library's inventory is vast, and it's helping to better serve the communities ever changing needs.

I moved to Lexington and I was renting a place and it needed some work.

And honestly, just like hanging pictures and other things and we just didn't have what we needed.

And so I ended up borrowing a lot of tools from people.

And one day I was at a picnic with some friends and we somebody said that they had a shed full of tools that they didn't really know how to use or have anywhere to store, and they didn't really want to just take them all to the dump.

And so they brought up the idea of having a tool.

Library to libraries are just like a regular library that we're all familiar with.

But instead of borrowing books, you can become a member and borrow things.

So we think of tools really broadly.

So that includes power tools, hand tools, things like saws, but also cleaning tools like shop bags, carpet cleaners, power washers, and also things that are more fun, like kitchen tools that, you know, maybe not everyone needs to own in a deep fryer, but it's fun to have once in a while for a party.

So right now, the two libraries open one day a week on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and members can come in or people who are not members can come and become members, borrow a tool and return it.

Seven days from then, people can also reserve tools ahead of time.

If you know you really need to mow your grass, you can reserve the electric lawnmower and come in, pick it up on Thursday, and then return it next Thursday.

The two library is pay what you can so anybody can join, no matter their ability to pay, to join.

We have a suggested donation amount of $10 a month to be a member, which we think is very accessible.

But if you can't afford it, if you can, if you can't pay anything, that's an option.

If you can pay a dollar a month.

That's great, too.

So the Lexington Tool Library is ultimately about people helping people.

So this isn't charity.

You know, we're not collecting big philanthropy dollars to help other people that are different than us.

This is a library for people who are members and who want to help other people who need tools.

We've gotten a lot of help from people, a lot of volunteer time and a lot of donations of tools.

All the tools that we have have been donated.

Anything that sits in your closet, sits in an attic, takes up space, and you take it out once every six months at best is a great candidate for giving to the tool library and letting people use it when they need it.

What a great idea.

The library's founding members say they gained inspiration from tool libraries in cities like Louisville, Chicago and Philadelphia.