Tag tools

DIY Center at Elkridge branch with a container full of racks ant other yard care implements.

Springtime at the DIY Center

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Elkridge DIY Center: stacks of ladders and a wheel barrow stacked against a white wall, with a blue tile floor.
DIY Elkridge Branch

by Alex P.

Beautiful spring weather and fair temperatures are here, making this the perfect time to tackle the outdoor work that it’s been too cold to attempt.

As you ready your garden for vegetable crops, or get your lawn in shape, you may have to clear some debris. You can get it done with a variety of rakes that the HCLS Elkridge Branch’s DIY Collection has for different lawn areas and applications, or perhaps with one of our leaf blowers. We also have tree limb saws, pruners, and pole saws to help prune errant limbs on the variety of trees you may have around your lawn, so you can keep your area safe and keep your trees healthy.

One necessary but demanding task you may wish to tackle is clearing your gutters. The DIY Collection has a variety of ladders that can help you get the job done. We have various step ladders, such as the multi-position ladder, that are suitable for single story homes, and 20- or 24-foot extension ladders for two-story homes. From there, you can access your gutters with ease, so clear, flush, and adjust away! Check our catalog or come to Elkridge Branch for a list of our ladders and the average vertical reach you can expect while using them.

Car maintenance is also easier to do now that it’s warmer. Make sure you have enough engine oil and check your tire treads to see if they’re worn. If you need an oil change or are replacing a tire, the DIY Collection has an automotive jack and stands kit so you can lift your car safely for easy access. While your car is up, you can check your brake pads to see if they need replacing too. You can use our socket set, breaker bar, and torque wrench to get tires on and off your vehicle.

DIY is your place to tackle spring cleaning, planting veggies in your garden, and so much more. Borrow the tools mentioned above and stay tuned for exciting new additions to our collection soon.

Community Plant Swap
Sat, May 10 | 2 – 3:30 pm
HCLS Central Branch
For adults.
Calling all plant lovers and the plant-curious! Join us for the second HCLS live plant swap. Have an abundance of healthy seedlings, cuttings, bare-root or potted plants? Bring them to the Take-a-Plant area so they can find a new home. Bring a box or other container(s) to gather and take home new plant friends.

A woman wearing a blue shirt walks toward the camera, with a toaster under one arm and a broken lamp in the other.

Repair Cafe at the Library
Sat, Jun 14 | 1 – 4 pm
HCLS Elkridge Branch
Instead of throwing away broken items, bring them to a Repair Cafe where volunteers will do their best to give them a new life. If you are interested in how things work, or have a favorite item that needs repair, join us to see what’s possible. Clothing, jewelry, small electrical appliances, toys, furniture. (No smart phones or computers, or gas powered devices.) Volunteers evaluate and fix as many items as they can and offer their expertise for things too large or not possible to bring in.

Alex Pyryt is a DIY Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch.  

The DIY Center Gets Ready for Spring

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By Eric L. and Kelly M.

DIY Elkridge Branch

From Kelly about gardening:

Spring is in the air, and I am eagerly getting ready for the growing season. I’ve been getting started by borrowing tools from the HCLS DIY Education Center, and it’s been a big help for all the times I just need that one specific tool to get the job done. So, let’s look at how the DIY Center can help you with that spring project list! 

Looking to prepare a garden for planting? Use a broadfork to help with tilling and aerating the soil. It can also help with mixing in soil amendments such as compost, peat moss, and fertilizers while preserving soil structure.  

Need to remove weeds? We’ve got you covered. Borrow our hand cultivator or try a digging knife for the tough weeds. Sometimes it’s more comfortable to weed from a standing position; for that, you might like the garden claw, which is also handy for cultivating the soil, or the standing weed puller, which is as simple as its name implies. 

If you’re new to planting, you might appreciate the seed sowing template. This helpful guide lays out exactly where to plant each seed without a need to measure between rows. 

Having the proper tool can make completing a task a joy, and gardening should be enjoyed. Stop on by the DIY Center to get yourself set for a great growing season. 

12/9/23 – Library customers learn how to build a shelving unit during a class at Howard County Library System Elkridge Branch.

From Eric about wood-working:

Since we opened in 2018, the DIY Education Center at Elkridge Branch has lent more items each year. We have many new, exciting items in 2024. Lending power tools, baking pans, and sewing machines in a library is not a commonplace thing. I would imagine you might live locally, so if you’ve not yet taken advantage of this amazing resource, drop by soon. 

We have just about every power tool you need for all your home improvement projects. The compound double bevel miter saw is one of most popular tools. This year we’ve added table saws that allow you to “rip cut,” or cut boards long ways. New this year, you can borrow a biscuit joiner that makes identical cuts in boards so you can join them side by side (in a biscuit). This tool comes in handy when making a tabletop, for example. The powered hand planer removes material from wood planks, allowing you to quickly “plane” them down. What’s more, we have clamps, corner clamps, and face clamps. These are super helpful for joining wood together for more intermediate carpentry projects. 

You are always welcome to stop by and chat with a knowledgeable staff member about the tools necessary for a project. The classes we offer are really the next step to learning how-to and hands-on. Instructors demonstrate basic techniques, and students may try certain tools. Questions are always welcome throughout the class.

DIY Raised Garden Beds
For adults. Register.
Learn and participate in the construction of a raised garden bed. Learn the building techniques and materials needed (all available to borrow from the DIY Education Center at Elkridge Branch) and tips for starting your Spring planting!
Sat, Mar 16 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
Miller Branch

Seed Starting
For ages 11+ & adults. Register.
Starting vegetables and flowering plants in preparation for spring and summer gardens is fun and rewarding. In this hands-on workshop, start vegetable or flower seeds to take home. Learn from Master Gardeners how to select the right seeds and starting media and how to provide proper germination and growing conditions for seedlings. All materials provided.
Sat, Mar 23 | 11 am – 12 pm
Elkridge Branch

How to Make a DIY Cat Tree
For adults. Register.
Learn the basic carpentry techniques and design skills to build your own cat tree. We discuss the new and re-purposed materials that can be used. Learn through demonstration and participation about the tools you can borrow from the DIY Education Center.
Sat, Apr 20 | 11 am – 1 pm
Elkridge Branch

Kelly is a DIY Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She likes to get her hands in the dirt, try new craft projects, and see how many books she can read at one time.

Eric is a DIY Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch. He enjoys reading, films, music, doing nearly anything outside, and people.

Signs advertising a 3D printer and laser cutter engraver, with examples of projects created by them on the shelves beneath, including keepsake ornaments and 3D printed flowers.

Expressing Your Creativity

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by Sahana C.

With the start of the new year comes the chance to start afresh, to explore new interests or hone old skills, and to follow through on resolutions that allow you to unlock your creativity. What better place to get inspired than the library? Across our branches, we’ve got innovative technology and tools to make your creative visions come to life. From the Makerspace at Glenwood Branch to the DIY Education Center at Elkridge Branch all the way to the A/V Lab at Savage Branch, there’s plenty to inspire your imagination.

Signs advertising a 3D printer and laser cutter engraver, with examples of projects created by them on the shelves beneath, including keepsake ornaments and 3D printed flowers.
Creations from the Makerspace at HCLS Glenwood Branch.

The Makerspace at Glenwood is a one-stop shop for all things design. With tinker bins, there’s opportunity for crafting and inventing in all sorts of innovative ways. The 3D printer is a professional grade machine and with a Glowforge, Cricut, large-format printer, a digital memory station, and a recording booth, there’s plenty to explore. The Makerspace area serves people ages eight and up, but for younger folks, the Builder’s Barn is a great place to bring designs into life. While some of the Makerspace products have associated costs for materials, you can design from start to finish. You can take Makerspace classes at Glenwood Branch. If you don’t have time to make your project, though, the Maker-To-Order system allows for HCLS staff to print or cut your fully designed files.

The photograph centers the customer service desk at the Elkridge branch's makerspace, with a wheelbarrow, ladders, and an array of books and tools to the left and behind, and a dolly and other equipment to the right.
The DIY Education Center at HCLS Elkridge Branch.

The DIY Education Center boasts a vast collection of tools for all ages, ranging from baking, biking, camping, crafts, gardening, or home improvement. The instructors are always excited to help those interested in engaging with the available tools at DIY classes held at Elkridge. The DIY Education Center even has a studio, a “mess-friendly” classroom, and a workspace. To borrow from the DIY collection, you must have a DIY library card, available to those 21 and older, who live, work, or attend school in Maryland.

Library customers stand outside a recording booth, which contains a microphone and a set of headphones draped over the mic stand.
Recording booth in the A/V Lab at HCLS Savage Branch.

The A/V Lab at Savage Branch also boasts a recording booth and 3D printer. During regular A/V Lab hours, a staff member can answer basic questions about the computer software. You can use the instruments in place, and as always, classes cans help familiarize you with each tool. Schedule a one-on-one appointment at the Savage Branch & STEM Education Center page on hclibrary.org.
If you want to find out more about how to unlock your creativity at the library this year, check out our classes, and visit us at the Makerspace, the DIY Education Center, or the A/V Lab.

Craft Works
For adults. Register here.
Let your creativity shine in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Each month, learn about different art media and explore new techniques.
Classic Book Flowers
Tue Feb 8 2-3:30 pm Central Branch.

A/V Lab
For teens and adults. Registration preferred here.
Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio. Record and mix music or create and edit movies with the help of a HiTech instructor. Walk-ins welcome.
Every Wednesday 5 – 7 pm Savage Branch.

Book Earrings and Charms
For teens & adults. Register here.
Make unique jewelry inspired by your favorite books.
Tue Feb 27 7 – 8:30 pm Elkridge Branch.

Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.