Effective Date: March 17, 2026
Last Updated: March 17, 2026
West Philly Tool Library Inc. (“WPTL,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you use our website at westphillytools.org, visit our physical location, or interact with us via SMS text messaging or email.
1. Information We Collect
Information You Provide
- Account & Membership Information: name, email address, phone number, mailing address, government-issued photo ID (for identity verification during in-person sign-up), and payment information.
- Communications: messages you send us via email, phone, text message, or our website contact forms.
- Class & Event Registration: enrollment details, emergency contact information, and any accessibility or accommodation requests.
- Rental Information: driver’s license number, vehicle information, and payment details when renting equipment.
- Donations: name, email, mailing address, and payment information for processing charitable contributions.
Information Collected Automatically
- Website Usage: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs, collected through standard web analytics.
- Transaction Records: loan history, payment records, class attendance, and membership status maintained for operational purposes.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information to:
- Process memberships, tool loans, class registrations, equipment rentals, and donations.
- Send transactional communications such as loan confirmations, due date reminders, overdue notices, payment receipts, and class updates.
- Send informational text messages (SMS) about your account, reservations, and library operations when you provide your phone number and consent to receive messages.
- Communicate about library hours, closures, events, classes, and community programs.
- Process payments and manage your account.
- Verify identity for membership and lending eligibility.
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Improve our services and website.
3. SMS/Text Messaging
By providing your phone number and opting in, you consent to receive text messages from West Philly Tool Library related to your account, including but not limited to:
- Loan due date reminders and overdue notifications
- Class registration confirmations and schedule changes
- Reservation status updates
- Rental pickup and return reminders
- Account and membership notifications
Message frequency varies based on your activity. Message and data rates may apply. Your carrier’s standard messaging rates apply.
To opt out of SMS messages, reply STOP to any message. You will receive a one-time confirmation of your opt-out. Reply HELP for assistance or contact info@westphillytools.org.
Opting out of SMS will not affect your membership, borrowing privileges, or other services. We will continue to communicate with you via email for essential account notifications.
We do not sell, rent, or share your phone number or SMS opt-in data with third parties for their marketing purposes. Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of membership or any purchase.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information with:
- Service Providers: third-party vendors who help us operate our services, including payment processors (Stripe), email delivery services, SMS messaging providers, and web hosting. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only to provide services on our behalf.
- Legal Requirements: when required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of WPTL, our members, or the public.
5. Data Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect your personal information, including encrypted connections (TLS), secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers, and access controls that limit data access to authorized staff and volunteers. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as your membership is active and as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy. Transaction records (loans, payments, donations) are retained for a minimum of seven years for accounting and legal compliance. You may request deletion of your account by contacting us, subject to our legal retention obligations.
7. Your Rights & Choices
- Access & Correction: you may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us.
- SMS Opt-Out: reply STOP to any text message.
- Email Preferences: manage your notification preferences through your member portal or by contacting us.
- Account Deletion: email info@westphillytools.org to request deletion of your account and associated personal data.
8. Children’s Privacy
WPTL membership and tool lending require members to be age 18 or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us so we can promptly delete it.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact us:
- West Philly Tool Library Inc.
- 1223 S Harmony St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
- Email: info@westphillytools.org
- Phone: (215) 833-3190
