About Us
Chippewa Valley Tool Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to increase access to borrowed tools, educational programming, and shared workspace to neighbors and partners throughout the Chippewa Valley.
What We Do
The Chippewa Valley Tool Library exists to make tools, equipment, and creative space accessible to everyone in our community. We collect, maintain, and lend a wide range of tools, so individuals, families, and organizations can build, repair, and create without the high cost of ownership.
In addition to tool lending, we offer an open workshop space where people can work on projects, learn new skills, and collaborate—especially those who don’t have access to their own workspace. By sharing tools, space, and knowledge, we help reduce waste, build confidence, and strengthen community connections. Our library is more than a collection of tools. It’s a community hub rooted in education, mutual support, and the belief that access to the right resources empowers people to improve their homes, their projects, and their lives.
Meet The Board
Christine M.
Christine works behind the scenes at the Chippewa Valley Tool Library, helping to build the financial and administrative systems needed. She’s passionate about community resilience, shared resources, and supporting communities that take care of themselves and each other. Christine brings professional experience working with nonprofit organizations to better serve their communities and thrive over time.
Jaimie M.
Jaimie has always been drawn to the craftsmanship, history, and aesthetics of old houses. Old homes have stories, and she loves the thrill of discovering them—whether buried under vintage carpet, hidden in old garden beds, or sealed behind walls.
Old homes also come with endless projects. Working with a modest budget, Jaimie and her husband have taken on most house repairs themselves, from major plumbing fixes to tiling, plastering, and woodworking. With each project came the need for yet another tool (or several), and over time, the cost and clutter added up.
This is why Jaimie is so excited to help launch the Chippewa Valley Tool Library. By expanding access to tools and workshop space, community members can confidently take on their own building and repair projects, even when space and money are limited.
Liz F.
Liz grew up learning the value of hands-on work from her father, who loved DIY projects and often gave her power tools as birthday and Christmas gifts. She spent years investing her time and resources into improving rental properties before purchasing her first home in 2010. Before tool libraries were widely available, Liz bought and rented tools to complete her own home renovations.
She is passionate about expanding access to tools, education, and hands-on learning opportunities so others can confidently take on their own DIY projects. In particular, Liz is dedicated to empowering women to build skills and independence in home repair and improvement.
Mike Richter
Mike spent his earlier years in the small-scale agriculture world and worked in food systems reform. His next chapter involved the joy of woodworking, which continues to this day. Mike loves to create, fabricate, modify, and repurpose, finding value in the marginal. He believes that every community can provide for themselves through proper planning, cooperation, and sacrifice. Chippewa Valley Tool Library is a perfect opportunity to apply his principles.
Ryan Balk
After growing up in Wisconsin and spending 22 years rambling around the West Coast, Ryan returned home and chose to make Eau Claire his landing place, eager to put down roots and get more involved where he lives.
Ryan believes that learning hands-on skills can build confidence, self-worth, and a sense of possibility. With a background in the renewable energy sector, a degree in welding technology, and his current role as a welding instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College, Ryan enjoys helping people discover what they’re capable of. Outside of work, you’ll often find him building custom furniture, strengthening relationships, and getting outside—biking, paddling, and exploring the landscapes and seasons of the Upper Midwest.