Southside Tool Library
2022 - 2024
Operations / Facilitation / Digital
At South Seeds in Glasgow, I managed the Southside Tool Library from 2022 to 2024, combining my service design background with hands-on community engagement. I led efforts to expand the library's reach, streamline day-to-day operations, and foster a culture of skill-sharing.
The Project:
Operating out of South Seeds, a local environmental charity in the Southside of Glasgow, Southside Tool Library provide residents with over 400 ‘tools’ - ranging from power drills, circular saws, and energy-efficient shower heads, to thermal imaging cameras.
My goal was to grow the membership base, improve operational efficiency, and encourage a more vibrant, engaged community around the tool library.
Challenge:
I implemented a simple strategy to address these challenges:
Membership awareness: focused on digital social media outreach to increase membership and borrowing of lesser-known tools.
Operational improvements: Streamlined portions of the inventory to make preparing to open and close the tool library faster and easier.
Outreach to create new markets: introduced power tool workshops to help new members and non-members confidently use equipment.
Key Initiatives:
Coordinated free power tool workshops, introducing community members to safe tool usage. Collecting user data on power tool confidence at the start and end of the session
Approach:
Through strategic planning and hands-on leadership, I significantly increased membership, improved operational workflows, and strengthened community ties. The library became a hub for skill-sharing and sustainable living.
Impact
Key Takeaways
Community-Centric Design: Engaging directly with members and volunteers reinforced the importance of user-centered design in community projects.
Operational Insights: Streamlining systems improved efficiency but highlighted the need for long-term funding and resource planning.
Volunteer Dynamics: While volunteer engagement was high, maintaining consistent participation required continuous effort and incentives.
Sustainability Challenges: The tool library model promotes sustainable living but faces hurdles in achieving financial independence without consistent external support.
