Comment by tlavoie | Hacker News Reader

Comment by tlavoie | Hacker News Reader

I and a few others in our community would love to start a tool library, so would love to have a good set of initial policies, software, tutorials and such to start from. For example:

  - Cost to rent or borrow?
  - Consumables (people expected to supply their own?)
  - Liability? (Think angle grinders, power saws)
  - Education of intended borrowers?

I'm willing to host a sea-can and act as librarian, but also unwilling to be sued because some ninny lopped off a thumb, or lost an eye to carelessness.

That’s awesome — and exactly the kind of community we want to support.

We’re working on tools to help launch local libraries: policy templates, waivers, safety guides, and yes, even subscription options (e.g. $X/month for unlimited borrowing) to keep things simple and sustainable.

You’d be able to set rules around pricing, consumables, and tool access — and we’re adding features like liability waivers and hazard flags to help reduce your personal risk as a host.

Would this solve most of the questions and concerns?

It might! I imagine we'd still want to run example forms past a lawyer, that sort of thing, but better than starting from scratch.

Yes, there are still some things to figure out, and we're working hard to find solutions that make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable. Really appreciate your feedback, it helps a lot!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com