City resident Richard Levin, who has worked on saving the tool library for the last two years, said the effort has new life now that a volunteer Friends of the Tool Library board has come forward to help support the free tool-lending service. Levin said the board collected 230 signatures at the city's farmers market earlier this month, including about 60 from people who live outside the city limits.

He said he also has met with Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B in the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, D.C., to develop support for the tool library outside of the city limits, and the board has developed a plan to help bolster the tool library's visibility and use.

Organizers plan to treat the tool library's services more like a traditional library, using the Takoma Park Maryland Library (a separate city department from the tool library, which is managed by Public Works) to promote the tool library's services, Levine said. That also could include having an updated catalog of tools available in the book library, perhaps in a special section of books, periodicals and videos geared toward home improvement projects.

The director of Takoma Park's book library, Ellen Arnold-Robbins, said Monday she had not yet spoken with the tool library's supporters.

The traditional library tie-in could extend across Eastern Avenue into the District. ANC Commissioner Faith Wheeler said staff at the Takoma Park Branch Library, part of the District of Columbia Public Library in Takoma, D.C., has expressed interest in supporting the tool library in some way through their branch on Cedar Street Northwest.

Wheeler said residents in her District neighborhood told her they were eager to sign-up as potential "associate members" of the Takoma Park Tool Library, willing to pay a nominal membership fee of around $20 to get borrowing privileges.

Levine said the board also wanted to promote the tool library on the city's Web site and cable channel.

Tool library booster Andrew Sommers, a Takoma Park sociologist who recently finished researching how organizations like a tool library or gardening cooperative affect a community, said the Takoma Park Tool Library helps to build the "social fabric" of city life.

"I did want to underscore that I think this is an institution worth supporting and funding at even higher levels as opposed to cutting from the budget," Sommers said. The city manager's proposed fiscal 2006 budget, which begins July 1, includes $14,328 for Tool Librarian Walt Rave's salary.

The effort to save the tool library began two years ago when former City Manager Rick Finn proposed closing the facility as a money-saving measure. Since then, residents have rallied to keep the library open and the city has relocated it to 16 Ritchie Ave.

While voicing their enthusiasm for the Friends of the Tool Library's proposal, council members gave the library supporters a stern warning: Produce positive results and increased usage by this time next year or the tool library's funding could again be in jeopardy.

"If we're sitting here and having this same conversation again next year, I think you're going to lose support from all of us," said Councilwoman Heather Mizeur (Ward 2). "It's time that we have to see tangible results."

Recognition for District 20 delegation

The City Council honored members of the city's District 20 General Assembly delegation Monday with a resolution thanking them for ongoing financial support of the community center.

Mayor Kathy Porter presented Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D) and Del. Sheila Ellis Hixson (D), both of Silver Spring, and Del. Peter V.R. Franchot (D) of Takoma Park with ceremonial copies of the resolution and plaques. "You've really come through, time after time, for the same project," Porter said.

The resolution also honored Del. Gareth E. Murray (D) of Silver Spring, who was absent Monday but toured the city with Porter and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) Thursday.

In all, since the city first requested financial assistance from the delegation to build the community center, the state has contributed $2.15 million to the project.

In recognizing the delegation for its help, council members reminded them that the community center still isn't finished: Councilman Marc Elrich (Ward 5) called the center's gym, removed from the current construction because of a lack of money, the "missing part" of the project.

Poet program, 'Rachel Carson Day' approved

In other council business Monday, members approved an Arts and Humanities Commission initiative to create a poet laureate program in Takoma Park. The commission will now appoint an official poet for the city, who will receive a two-year appointment with a stipend of $1,000, plus an allowance of $500 for program expenses.

The council also designated Friday as "Rachel Carson Day" in honor of what would have been the environmental activist's birthday.

Both measures passed unanimously in the form of resolutions.