Tool Library helps
the poor handyman
By TOM VISOKY
Of th« Emerald
Tools are handy to have
around — they can save the
do-it-yourselfer a lot of time
and money
Unfortunately, even the sim
plest do-it-yourself projects
often require specialized tools
that the average “poor college
student” doesn't own and
can’t afford to buy How ag
gravating!
But, fret not, the Action Now
Tool Library, located at 1557
Agate St next to the Food-Op,
offers help for the frustrated
student handyman
The tool library's two-room,
baby-blue plywood shack is
crammed with a huge inven
tory of tools — hammers,
wrenches, vices, powersaws,
drills, rakes, shovels, toilet
plungers and more — that
University students can bor
row for up to three days, free of
charge Non-students also
have access to the tools, but
must pay a membership fee of
either $2 50 for three months
or $10 for the year
In addition, the Library,
which is funded by incidental
fees, rents lawnmowers and
rototillers, for one day only, for
$1 50 and $3 respectively
The Tool Library started in
1971 as an offshoot of Action
Now's campaign to build local
low-cost housing for the poor
According to recently retired
director Katie McLaughlin,
volunteers were eager to build
the homes but lacked the
necessary tools
“They said we will build the
houses if you give us the
tools,' " McLaughlin says
"So, voila — the tool library "
McLaughlin says when she
took over as director two years
ago, the library was in a sham
bles, and many tools had
simply disappeared
"The place was really slip
shod," she says
Since then McLaughlin has
helped straighten things out.
The tools are oft the floor and a
new tool identification system
coupled with overdue fines
has reduced the tool attrition
rate considerably
Because the Tool Library is
used so heavily, McLaughlin
says she instituted a late fine
of 25 cents per tool per day to
ensure that people would re
turn tools as soon as possible
The fine may not seem like
much, but it adds up quickly if
a person has borrowed a lot of
tools, she says, adding that
students who don’t pay the
fine will have it taken out of
their general deposit
Students also are held re
sponsible if they break or lose
any tools they borrow,
McLaughlin says
The demand for various
tools varies from season to
season, she says
"In the summer it's power
tools In the spring we re al
most totally wiped out of gar
den tools."
There is often a long waiting
list for the more popular tools
such as rototillers, drills and
power saws However,
because of the heavy demand,
the person at the top of the list
does not necessarily get the
tool, McLaughlin says
"We simply call down the
list, and whoever is home gets
the tool."
Although the Tool Library's
hours have not been set for the
coming year, the Library is
open most week days Call
686-3702 to check on exact
week day and weekend hours
w
WEDNESDAY A THURSDAY NIGHT
OREGON ELECTRIC STATION SPECIAL!
SWINE & WINE
(WHILE THEY LAST)
HOUSE WINE OF YOUR CHOICE
(under 21 gets Pepsi)
MARINATED PORK CHOPS
BAKED POTATO
TOSSED GREEN SALAD
SERVING FINE FOOD & SPIRITS
5TH * WILLAMETTE
(KITTY CORNER FROM U.S. POST OFFICE)
DOWNTOWN EUGENE
OREGON ELECTRIC STATION
IN CORVALLIS VISIT THE
CLASS REUNION RESTAURANT
757-1700 ATOP THE CANNERY MALL
777 NORTHWEST 9TH . CORVALLIS. OREGON
ISN’T IT TIME
YOU MADE THE
DECISION TO STOP
SMOKING?
You can quit in 5 days without craving,
weight gain or withdrawals.
Our proven method is GUARANTEED
because it really works.
Regular price $250 lees 10% student
discount.
CALL NOW 343-7517
STOP SMOKING CENTER
170E. 11th Avenue
___
LOW COST
SPAY & NEUTER V
CLINIC, P.C. oJjt
at Eugene Animal Hospital, P.C.
1399 Franklin, across from the University
Call 342-1178 for appointments and information
Charges:
$12.50 Male Cat, $25.00 Female Cat; $25.00 Male Dog, $35.00 Female Dog
(6-7 mo. old & up to 40 lbs., Bigger or older call for estimate). Price includes a
complete exam by a veterinarian, general anesthetic, sterile surgery, suture
removal, and one night hospitalization for females.
Member American Animal Hospital Association
’
TEXTBOOKS
11% Discount
The UO Bookstore traditionally discounts all
textbooks 11% Each textbook has two prices
inside The higher price is what many other
bookstores charge The lower price is the price
U of 0 students pay Last year, through the 11%
discount, U of O students saved $302,101
///
Used Books
The UO Bookstore also carries used books
Used books are cheaper; shop early
to find the used books you want
We always try to increase
the number and variety
of used books so
come in and
check our selection.
For Quicker Service
All textbooks are arranged within
respective majors, and there's a
book list for each class with the
course number and professor’s
name to make locating your texts
easier. If you're writing a check,
please have your ID ready for the
check approvers—it’ll make
checking out quicker. There are
different cashiers for people
paying by cash, check,
MasterCharge and Visa: make
sure you go to the correct cashier
13th & Kincaid
Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30
Sat 10:00-5:30
IKSTORE
Textbooks 686-3520
General Books 686-3510
Supplies 686-4331