LITT: Library Lifelines

Our guests for this chat were Catherine Milner with the City of Boise Curb It program, Morgan Gardner, Adult Services and Outreach at Latah County Library District (Moscow), and Jackie Carter, Interlibrary Loan Specialist at Latah County Library District (Moscow). Here is a link to the recording of the discussion.

Morgan & Jackie (Latah County Library District – Moscow) – Have been running their repair café for 7 years, it is the third one in the Northwest and the first in Idaho. Currently, the event is held 4 times a year in Moscow. They love helping other libraries set up for events like this. Their next event is on April 12, 1-4 pm. Contact: Jackie, jackiec@latahlibrary.org

Catherine Milner (City of Boise – Curb it) – Presentation of Repair Café Boise – her position focuses on reducing waste and reusing instead of disposing, including hosting the Repair Café!

• Repair Café Boise
  • Free community fix-it events.
  • Community members bring broken household items to the event space (JUMP, co-host with City of Boise).
  • Volunteer fixers help community members.
  • Provide refreshments and resources.
  • Part of Repair Café International (started in 2009).
  • First event in 2023, now 2x/year.
• Goal for event:
  • Help community members reduce waste, save money & learn from each other in a comfortable, welcoming environment.
  • Offer a space for folks who have the repair skills to teach others.
  • Inspire other communities.
  • City of Boise has Reduce & Reuse efforts
• Getting started:
  • Partnership between the City of Boise and Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP).
    • JUMP had the space!
  • Learned from Latah County’s example.
  • Plan the logistics.
  • Recruit volunteers.
    • Whom do you know? Whom do the people you know know? Utilize these connections!
    • Do you know anyone with a communication platform and a built-in audience to spread the word?
    • What other organizations in your community have like-minded values and could assist with or promote the program?
  • PROMOTE
• How it Works:
  • Repair stations based on volunteer skills.
    • Keep it broad until you know what common items folks will bring in.
    • Don’t duplicate what other organizations in your community are doing.
  • Non-repair stations to help folks check in, find resources, etc. (someone to take photos to document the event!)
  • Limited to 1 item under 50 lbs. per person.
  • Liability waivers & item repair form (includes weight and value of item, so total weight and value of items can be shared at the end of the event).
  • Attendees are assigned to a repair station.
  • Refreshments and resources are available while folks wait for an available fixer.
  • Folks stay with their fixer to learn; it’s not a drop-and-go event.
    • Most folks don’t seem interested in helping with the repair or learning how to do the repair themselves.
  • Ring a bell and receive a sticker when an item is fixed!
  • Not all items can be fixed (fixers only have up to 30 minutes per item).
  • Three hours (4-7 pm on weekdays in downtown Boise)
• Volunteers
  • 40-50 volunteers per event (doesn’t have to be this large or can be bigger based on community need and past attendance).
  • Train before the event (about 1 hour) – safety guidelines, walk-through of the event, and an opportunity to ask questions.
  • Asked to come early to set up stations and allow time for breakdown after the event.
  • Ask volunteers for feedback with a form a week after the event.
  • Show appreciation for your volunteers in some way.
• Impact from 6 previous events:
  • 800 attendees, 600 items assessed, 73% fully or partially repaired (~$39,000 in savings and 2,200 lbs. of material kept out of landfills!
• Top items:
  • Lamps, vacuums, bags/backpacks, pants/jeans, necklaces, sewing machines, clocks, books, jackets, fans.
• Things to know:
  • There may be a rush at the beginning of the event.
  • Once you know what items are most popular, recruit more volunteers for those stations.
  • Keep refining!
• Get involved:
  • Host or co-host!
  • Participate in existing events in various ways:
    • What resources are already available in your community or library about repair and reuse?
    • Does your library mend books? Volunteer these services at an existing event.
    • Have a library card sign-up or other activity for folks while they wait to get their item fixed.
  • City of Boise will have a Repair Café Toolkit at some point. Reach out to the Curb It team (curbit@cityofboise.org) to get the toolkit.
  • Check out Repair Café International to see where repair cafes are being held.
    • If you pay for the Repair Café model ($55), it comes with liability forms and other forms, allowing you to use the logo as well.
      • Run liability forms through your agency attorney to make sure you’re clear!
    • Find Repair Guides

Moscow

• Always bring a book table with books with information about repair or reuse. Folks can browse while they wait. Sometimes folks can check these books out at the event.
• Knife-sharpening stations have been very popular. (Total kit cost: $100)
• Have a book repair station at every repair café – very popular at Moscow’s events, and it is led by Moscow staff.
• Glue station – every kind of glue!
• Currently no limit on items as Moscow is a smaller community than Boise.

Questions:

What vetting do you do for volunteers?

• Boise – No formal vetting, but they do meet with volunteers before the event to make sure they are comfortable with what they are signing up for.

In terms of repair supplies, who provides those materials?

• Moscow – There is a volunteer who has an alterations business and has done clothing repair sessions in various locations in the past. She brings her supplies with her. The library purchases some materials for the events (usually based on what the volunteers say they need), such as extension cords, soldering irons, clothing irons, etc. The library gets donations from the Friends of the Library and community member donations at the events. Folks were donating even before donation jars were put out!
• Boise – Volunteers tend to be more comfortable providing their own tools. Part of the volunteer form is a question about what tools volunteers are most comfortable using. Ask folks to label their items so they don’t get mixed up with communal items.

What are some more examples of tweaks that were made at Repair Café Boise?

• Improved process and flow from check-in to repair station. Includes a section about the flow of events on the repair form. Also, always have clearly labeled stations.
• Request for more volunteers in the electrical appliance station to feel less rushed.
• New ideas for promotion – suggestions for specific organizations to help spread the word.

Does the Moscow library have a Library of Things, and is it used for Repair Cafes?

• In the process of starting a Library of Things in a recently closed elementary school building nearby.

With a small space in Moscow, where do you hold your repair cafes, and how is traffic control managed?

• Repair Cafes are held at the Moscow Community Center, which is close to the library. The Community Center is an old high school gym with ample parking. Events are not so busy that they need traffic control. Typical attendance is 40-50. They have a check-in crew that helps direct folks.

How were volunteer fixers gathered?

• Moscow – Primarily word of mouth. Jackie’s husband works at the University of Idaho and has connections. Spot on registration form at events that asks if folks are interested in volunteering. People reach out to the library to volunteer when they hear about these events. Other resources to tap include the retirement community, higher education or trade schools (students and educators), and high schools (for fixing tech).
• Boise – It took some time in the beginning. It helps to have a clear outline of what the event is and what is expected that you can share with potential volunteers. Share it through multiple channels and talk to everyone you know! Once the events start running, there are returning volunteers. The volunteers recruit other people, which makes it easier.

Was social media used to recruit volunteers?

• Boise – Yes, on Facebook and in the city newsletter. Also, there is an online application on the website.

For strategic planning, Repair Cafés are a great way to engage your community, both for volunteers and attendees.

Resources

• Learn more about Repair Cafés, get resources, and register your program at the Repair Café website.
• Access repair guides here.