About the SPETL

The SPETL features all-electric EGO lawn care tools, which South Portland residents can borrow to use at home free of charge by simply using their South Portland Public Library card to sign out the equipment. Residents can rent electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and edgers for one week per rental.

Rentals from the SPETL are free to all South Portland residents over 18 with a library card. Residents who do not have a library card must sign up for one at the Main or Branch library prior to renting from the SPETL. Learn how to sign up for a library card and documents required at: https://southportlandlibrary.com/need-a-library-card/ 

Please follow @SoPoSustainability on Instagram for up-to-date SPETL information!

FAQs

How does it work?

Residents can sign out electric equipment by going to the SPETL shed located next to the Swap Shop at the Transfer Station. The SPETL manager will assist residents with signing out and learning how to use equipment. To sign out equipment residents must provide a valid City of South Portland Library card and sign an Equipment User Agreement form. The SPETL manager will provide a demonstration of how to properly use equipment and answer questions to the best of their knowledge. Equipment can checked out for a period of one week.

To return the equipment, bring it back to SPETL manager who will make sure the equipment is in working order and sign it back in. If the equipment is returned late, the borrower will be fined an overdue fee of $1 per day until the equipment is returned. If the equipment is 30 days overdue, the equipment will be considered stolen and the borrower will receive a bill for the price of the stolen equipment.

What if I don’t have an active library card?

You can get a new library card or renew your card for free by visiting the Main Library at 482 Broadway or the Branch Library at 155 Wescott.

To get a new library card, you will need to provide proof of South Portland residency by providing a Maine state-issued photo identification showing a current South Portland residence, or a state or federal issued photo identification in conjunction with one of the following documents:

• Utility bill dated within the last 30 days
• A South Portland issued tax bill/tax receipt dated within the past three months
• Current lease, mortgage papers, or rent receipts that officially state the property address (that is, no handwritten receipts; must be a preprinted form which shows the bank or realty company name)
• Current vehicle registration, in the name of the applicant, showing a current South Portland address

To renew your expired library card, please visit the library. Library accounts may be renewed annually as long as the account is in good standing and the user maintains eligibility.

Lost or damaged library cards may be replaced at a cost of $1.

What if I have a non-resident library card?

The SPETL is only available to South Portland residents. A non-resident library card cannot be used to sign out equipment at the SPETL.

Can I renew my lawn equipment?

SPETL equipment cannot be renewed. You will be eligible to check out equipment again on the next day that the SPETL is open after the equipment has been returned. For example, if you returned a piece of equipment on Wednesday, you would be eligible to check out that same piece of equipment on Friday.

Will I be able to sign out a charger with my lawn equipment?

Yes, all lawn equipment signed out will come with a battery and a charger.

What if the equipment gets damaged or stops working?

If the equipment is damaged, please return it to the SPETL and let the SPETL manager know about the damage. Do not try to repair the equipment. The borrower will not be charged for damages unless the equipment is damaged beyond repair due to the borrower’s misuse of equipment, at which time the borrower could be charged. The borrower will not be charged if the equipment is inoperable due to a manufacturing-related malfunction.

What is included in the Equipment User Agreement?

A copy of the Equipment User Agreement can be found here.

Can I reserve equipment online ahead of time?

Equipment must be signed out in-person. You can check availability of equipment on the library catalogue here.  

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

For additional questions, please reach out to Susan Parmelee in the Sustainability Department via e-mail or phone at sparmelee@southportland.org or (207) 347-4147.