'Repair Cafe' to be Held at Westborough Library

WESTBOROUGH, MA - Don’t throw out your broken toaster and dull scissors, just bring them to the Westborough Public Library!

On Saturday, March 19 volunteer repair experts will look at your broken household items for free at the library’s first Repair Cafe.

The library is partnering up with the Rotary Club of Westborough in hopes of reducing the town’s waste.

“By promoting repairs, the Westborough Library and Westborough Rotary want to help reduce mountains of waste. We throw away piles of stuff, even things which practically have nothing wrong with them, and which could easily be used again after a simple repair. Unfortunately, many people have forgotten that they can have things repaired. Repair Café wants to change all of that,” event staff wrote in the announcement.

If the volunteers cannot repair something they will try to suggest the best place to take it to be fixed. People may be asked to pay for extra parts that are needed for the repair. 

The event could help bring neighbors together and create new connections within the community. Participants are asked to hang around while their items are being repaired and help with the fix-up or have a snack and visit with neighbors. 

“Repair Café is also meant to put neighbors in touch with each other in a new way, save money, and discover that a lot of know-how and practical skills can be found close to home. If you repair a bike, a CD player, or a pair of pants together with a previously unfamiliar neighbor, you look at that person in a different light the next time you run into them on the street,” event staff wrote.

Small appliances, vacuum cleaners, lamps, computers, clothes, bikes, toys, outdoor power equipment, and anything that is broken is welcome and can most likely be repaired. Knives, scissors, and garden tools can also be sharpened at the Repair Cafe.

The Westborough Library and Rotary Club of Westborough plan to throw a Repair Cafe three times a year in the future.

For more information or to volunteer, send an email to repaircafe@westboroughrotary.org or call Donna Martel, Adult Services Librarian, at 508-366-3050 or Gerry Gross, Rotary Club of Westborough, at 508-735-6141.