The Next American Dream
Library puts tools in people's hands
Bob Horton, manager of a tool library in Springfield, Mo., talks with Steve Chiotakis about whether we all really need our own stuff. His organization loans out everyday tools like power drills and lawnmowers.
Bob Horton (Bob Horton)
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TEXT OF INTERVIEW
INTRODUCTION: America is an "ownership society" for the most part. We buy things we need, such as tools for household work. Garages across the country are filled with examples. But there's one place in Springfield, Mo., that says residents there don't need to own all those things anymore. It's a place where people can check tools out, like a book. As we continue our Marketplace series, the "Next American Dream," we speak with Bob Horton, manager of this tool library. So, Bob, what kind of equipment are we talking about here?
BOB HORTON: Well, we have all kinds of saws: We have a chainsaw, we have a circular saw. We have power washers. We have drill kits, paint spray guns, air compressors, and things like that. Really what we are trying to do is break down barriers for our neighborhood residents.
CHIOTAKIS: Now, Bob, I think about a lot of these tools that I have personally. And I also think about convenience. And a lot of these things -- I'm playing devil's advocate here -- but it would be an inconvenience for me to have to go borrow something when I could have it in my garage. How do you convince people otherwise?
HORTON: Well, the neighborhoods primarily that we serve are low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, so a lot of times they don't have those tools. It's a very inexpensive yearly fee that they pay to belong to this library. And then they can come and check these tools out for free.
CHIOTAKIS: How did you get this all started? What was the idea behind it?
HORTON: Well, when I took over as executive director in 2004, I went and toured two different organizations like ours. And both of those had something like this. So I came back, talked to some people here in Springfield to talk about, is there a need for this and would it break down some barriers that people might have to fixing up their homes? Because one of our main objectives in our revitalization efforts is to improve the housing stock in the neighborhoods that we serve, and we feel this very much does that.
CHIOTAKIS: You know, we live this ownership society, Bob, and it seems to me a lot of people would want to have those items. Or, you know, if they don't have those items, then they're not interested in using them in the first place. How do you feel about that?
HORTON: Well, I think we do live in an ownership society, but we also live . . . but we're also facing economic times to where, people may not, if they need a tool, don't have the means to go out and purchase those tools. So we feel that there's definite value to becoming a member of this.
CHIOTAKIS: All right, Bob Horton, executive director of the Urban Neighborhoods Alliance in Springfield, Mo., thank you for joining us.
HORTON: Thank you very much.
Comments
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From Avilton, MD, 05/26/2009
I really enjoyed this story about a neighborhood tool library. I first became exposed to this concept about 30 years ago reading Ivan Illich's "Towards a History of Needs" in which he advocates all kinds of community sharing of tools/appliances such as lawnmowers, washing machines, etc. It is very American for each and every household to own a tool such as a lawnmower which is used every couple of weeks when it makes a lot of economic and environmental sense to share these kinds of tools. It also has the added benefit of building community as it gives people more opportunity to interact with one another. While the store looked at how the concept makes sense for low income people who may not be able to afford all kinds of tools, I think it makes a lot of sense from an environmental and community point of view as well.
From Los Angeles, CA, 05/15/2009
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for your comments.
As a journalist, I'm a skeptic. I'm charged with getting to the bottom of an idea. I in no way feel I was disrespectful to Mr. Horton and, as a matter of fact, our conversation went on even after the formal interview was completed. If you feel my tone on-air came across as snide, it certainly was unintended.
Again, thanks for listening. Feedback is always appreciated.
Steve
From Broomfield, CO, 05/14/2009
I agree that Mr. Chiotakis was disrespectful. There is an important place for journalist to be critical and to ask contrarian questions. However, one can do that with out condescension and disdain in their voice. I think he could have asked the same or similar questions with a different tone and the interview would not have felt so awkward for those of us listening on our way to work. It was just uncomfortable.
From Winston Salem, NC, 05/14/2009
I don't think Mr. Chiotakis was being disrespectful...I interpreted his comments as playing "devil's advocate" only. I, too, love the idea of a tool library and hope that communities across America will build on this idea for all kinds of sharing projects. One of the reasons I listen to public radio is because I hear uplifting stories like this all of the time. Keep up the good work!
From san francisco, CA, 05/14/2009
Hi, this is my civil version of a comment I just mailed the website: This Chiotakis is perhaps the slimiest, most snide/smug interviewer I have ever heard on any public radio show, ever.
I think that it's a great idea and I wish mister chiotakis all the best with his fat garage and eye-rolling response to a great idea.
This was my least favorite interview ever. Smugdude, you're young, find a line of work to which your derision is better suited. Why on earth would you humiliate a guest?
UPDATE: Sorry, Smug, I just saw your picture. You're not young and may have only this upon which to rely--maybe just channel your inner nice guy when talking to actual humans?
From san francisco, CA, 05/14/2009
Hi, this is my civil version of a comment I just mailed the website: This Chiotakis is perhaps the slimiest, most snide/smug interviewer I have ever heard on any public radio show, ever.
I think that it's a great idea and I wish mister chiotakis all the best with his fat garage and eye-rolling response to a great idea.
This was my least favorite interview ever. Smugdude, you're young, find a line of work to which your derision is better suited. Why on earth would you humiliate a guest?
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