BTL Executive

2025 President’s Report

Dear Members and Friends, 

This year has been another busy and rewarding one for the Brunswick Tool Library. I’d like to begin by thanking everyone who has contributed their time, energy, and enthusiasm to keeping the library running smoothly and growing stronger. Our success continues to rely on an incredible community of volunteers, members, and supporters. 

One of the biggest milestones this year was hiring our first paid position in the Volunteer Coordinator. This is a huge step forward for the library’s long-term sustainability. The role covers both day-to-day volunteer management and strategic recruitment. A big thank you to Angela for all her work in setting up the role and building our new systems, and to Maddie, who has since taken over and brought fantastic energy and initiative to the position. 

We’ve also made significant investments in our collection, purchasing four battery mowers and two mulchers — part of a total of $27,000 spent on new tools last financial year. These upgrades will help us better serve our members and keep our lending operations going. 

Behind the scenes, we’ve improved our reporting and volunteer management processes and strengthened our policies. These changes make a real difference in how we operate day-to-day and help ensure the library continues to run smoothly as we grow. 

Karina deserves a special mention for her ongoing dedication — including putting in hours of library work even while overseas! Her efforts, along with those of the rest of our volunteer leadership team, have kept things running seamlessly. 

Our Repair Café has gone from strength to strength this year, increasing both the number of repaired items and the donations received from the community. Thank you to Bella, Maddie, and Karina for coordinating the Café, and to all the repairers who give their time and skills each month to help community members fix their things and reduce waste. 

We also took part in RMIT’s Volunteering Expos this year, which were great opportunities to connect with new volunteers and share what the library does with a wider audience. 

Another exciting development was the purchase of a 3D printer last November. Thanks to Yiming and Rocky’s expertise in 3D modelling, we’ve been able to design and print custom repair parts — keeping tools in circulation even when manufacturers no longer supply spares. This innovation embodies the spirit of the Tool Library: creativity, sustainability, and practical problem-solving. 

We’ve made major improvements to Sick Bay and our repair operations, with better organization for maintenance tools and spare parts. These upgrades make it easier for volunteers to service tools and get them back on the shelves quickly. 

This year, the committee has done substantial strategic planning work to position the library for the next few years of growth. We’re building a stronger foundation for the future — one that balances sustainability, accessibility, and community engagement. 

Finally, I want to thank all our members for their ongoing support. Whether you borrow tools, volunteer your time, or donate to keep us running — you’re the reason the Brunswick Tool Library exists and thrives. 

Thank you all for another fantastic year. 

Sincerely, 

Zachary Morris 

President, Brunswick Tool Library