Libraries are usually places associated with books, reading and speaking in hushed tones, but a new Brisbane library is breaking all the rules.

Australia's first public tool library allows members to borrow power tools, lawnmowers and whipper snippers.

Sabrina Chakori came up with the idea and is now one of 40 passionate volunteers running the Brisbane Tool Library out of the State Library of Queensland.

"Libraries have had to reinvent themselves because people aren't borrowing as many books anymore," she said.

Ms Chakori said it worked like a normal library but people paid an annual membership fee of $75 to loan tools and other household items.

"People can borrow hand and power tools, camping gear and kitchen appliances, party needs — it's just like coming in to borrow a book," Ms Chakori said.

"Not everyone needs to own a lawnmower or a whipper snipper, so sharing resources just makes sense."

Many items donated by downsizing baby boomers

The aim is to extend the life of a range of products that would otherwise end up in landfill.

There are currently 150 members borrowing from a pool of 500 items, most of which have been donated.

Sabrina Chakori came up with the idea and is now one of the 40 passionate volunteers. ( ABC News: Shelley Lloyd )

"We're getting a lot of baby boomers donating household items when they downsize, but as the same time we're getting a lot of people aged 25 to 40 borrowing … they live in the inner-city and just want access to equipment, without buying it," Ms Chakori said.

Tool library a hit with women

Brisbane Tool Library coordinator Samantha Wigman said sharing tools saved money, space and the environment.

"It's going great and has already grown exponentially and isn't stopping," Ms Wigman said.

"We're just so busy and it's got so much support from the community."

Ms Wigman, who is an industrial designer, said the library had been a hit with women particularly.

"Men's sheds and other spaces are now common, but women are seeing this as an opportunity to learn to use the tools and have a space to creatively use them," Ms Wigman said.

"They want to build their own things and fix their own things rather than buying new, but they don't know how, so they're coming here instead."

'The perfect resource'

Designer Rachel Bryson is planning to make sustainable furniture and said she believes the Brisbane Tool Library can help deliver her vision.

"I'm just about to start producing some of my own low-tox [toxic] sustainable furniture and to keep everything alongside our core values in the business — it's just the perfect resource," Ms Bryson said.

Brisbane designer Rachel Bryson plans to make sustainable furniture. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

"It's also helping us keep the costs down for our business because it means we don't have to rely on buying all of those things outright.

"That's why this Brisbane State Library is great because they also have the area where you can come and do some of the projects here as well."

State Library of Queensland spokesman Mick Byrne said he was proud the library had been able to give the enterprising founders of the Brisbane Tool Library the support to grow their idea.

"It's a fantastic solution to a problem most people haven't even thought about or realised existed," Mr Byrne said.

Tool libraries are popular in the United State and Canada, with the largest tool library in the world in Toronto.

There are a number of tool libraries in Australia, but this is the first to operate out of a public library.

Ms Chakori said she hoped to help set up tool libraries in other communities around Australia.

"We see this as the way of the future — people need to get into the mindset that they don't need to buy these things — they just need to borrow it and reduce the environmental footprint, they can save money and space," Ms Chakori said.