The Station North Tool Library will hold its 12th biannual Fix-It Fair next month, aiming to reduce landfill waste by connecting guests with skilled volunteers to repair household items. The nonprofit allows users to borrow tools in the same way they would check out books from a traditio nal library. They also offer a variety of classes and workspaces to learn and practice skills. A volunteer helps a resident test a record player. Photo credit: Winston Zhou The Fix-It Fair will take place Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 417 E. Oliver St. rom 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will be able to meet volunteers who can help them restore items that are not working as desired. “The whole idea is you can come to this even with your broken items and you’ll work with our team of fixers, all volunteer fixers, to fix this item,” said Gagan Singh, community engagement manager of Station North Tool Library. Started in 2017, the fair was originally an annual event. Now, the events are held twice a year, once in the spring and fall.  Textiles, electronics, bicycles, instruments and even small pieces of furniture are all accepted. However, the maximum is two items per person.  Community members come together at one of Station North Tool Library’s Fix-It Fair events. Photo credit: Winston Zhou In an interactive and hands-on experience, repair advice and common materials come free with working with volunteers to make repairs. More complicated repairs may be referred to a local repair service.  Singh said that at the checkout station, the items brought are weighed to give a tangible idea of how much has been diverted from a landfill.  Focusing primarily on sewing and mending, Joan Freedman, a member at the Tool Library and a craft room monitor volunteer, has been assisting the Fix-It Fair for the last four years. Recently retired, she shared how great an opportunity volunteering has been to help teach people in the community. A volunteer fixes the light above a sewing machine while being watched by a fellow volunteer and a guest. Photo credit: Winston Zhou “It’s important to get people involved, and often if they’ve never handled the seam ripper or sewn a button, while they’re sitting with me, they can do that skill, that entry-level skill,” Freedman said. “And it’s not as scary as maybe they thought it would be too, to work on their own clothing.” Her favorite part of the event is the conversations she gets to have with people.  “I think my favorite part, actually, is the one-on-one conversations that I have while I’m sitting with strangers repairing their clothing. Oftentimes, we end up talking about their lives, or the adventures they’ve had wearing that favorite dress I’m fixing for them, or what they’ve been carrying in the backpack, or where they’ve traveled with the backpack that I’m repairing,” Freedman said.  For those interested in registering or learning more about either the event or the organization, click here.  ...read more read less