If you or your spouse loves tinkering, fixing things, or just hates throwing away a broken lamp or favorite blanket, this one’s for you! The Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library (just about a 17-minute drive from The Woodlands, near Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens) is hosting something truly unique: a Repair Café.
This community event is all about giving items a second life. You can bring your broken things (small electrical items like lamps, clocks, fans, toys, or household textiles like quilts, clothes, or stuffed animals) and volunteer “repair coaches” will do their best to help you fix them free of charge. They’ll have tools and materials on hand, and even if not every item can be saved, you’ll enjoy the experience and community connection that comes with it.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Free repairs (no guarantees, but plenty of effort and enthusiasm!)
- Friendly volunteer fixers ready to teach and assist
- A chance to repair or be repaired. You can even sign up to volunteer if you’re handy with tools or sewing needles
- A relaxed, neighborly atmosphere perfect for learning something new
The event takes place on Saturday, November 8, 2025 in the library’s meeting room, and both walk-ins and registered participants are welcome. The Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library, part of the Harris County Library System, is located at 22248 Aldine Westfield Rd and is situated in Mercer Park, adjacent to the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. You'll be ideally located for a peaceful walk before or after!
If you’d like to volunteer as a fixer, sign up here.
If you’d like to bring an item to be repaired, register here.
Note: In additional to repairs, the library also be collecting items for recycling. If you have any unused handheld devices you'd like to responsibly dispose of (old cell phones, tablets, handheld gaming devices, etc.), bring them along and the they'll recycle them for you!
Even if you just go to observe, the Repair Café offers a fun and fulfilling way to connect with others and maybe even learn a new skill. It’s the kind of event that makes you appreciate how special our library community really is!
