Makerspace program offers residents a chance to roll up their sleeves and get dirty
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
One of the newest trends in community library programing is to create a “dirty space” for hands-on, do-it-yourself learning.
The East Troy Lions Public Library embraced this concept last year when it adopted Makerspace classes and workshops into its offerings.
“Basically, a Makerspace is any community-operated space in which people with common interests – often in robotics, computers, workshops, textile arts, etc. – can come together to learn,” East Troy Librarian Alison Senkevitch said.
The library is designing its Makerspace area as a “general Makerspace” meaning it will have the tools needed to do basic projects and explore various topic areas, but won’t be able to accommodate the large tools and equipment for advanced projects, Senkevitch said.
She went on to explain that Makerspace programs are unique to the community they serve, focusing on the needs of the residents and the resources available to the library.
“The specific activities carried out in any particular Makerspace depend on needs of the community using the space,” she said.
For example, robotics is a big draw for East Troy residents, with the Middle School having instituted a required robotics class into its curriculum last year and the success of the Patronum Bots FIRST Tech Challenge and eTREC robotics teams. Many of the library’s offerings in its Makerspace can be used to expand on the robotic knowledge the kids are learning at the Middle School and give them another opportunity to explore that field.
The library has two main components to its Makerspace – events and workshops where everyone works on the same project or skill at the same time and open lab times to give patrons a chance to work on independent projects or explore the material.
“We have gathered some nice equipment for the space, including two 3D printers, some Arduino microcontrollers, a sewing machine, a LEGO Mindstorm set and expansion pack, material for e-textiles such as conductive thread, and various hand tools,” Senkevitch said.
“I know that I want robotics, and computer programming, because I think that goes hand-in-hand, incorporated in somehow. I’m just now sure exactly how,” Senkevitch said. “For the Mindstorms, I have emails out to the local 4H groups, because I have heard a few other library directors say something about their local 4H groups and/or the UW-Extension office coming in and doing a ‘Mindstorms course’ for them. I also want to bring out the Mindstorms during our regular Thursday afternoon LEGO time.”
Learn to solder
To start things off with the Makerspace programming this year, the library is holding a Halloween Solder and Craft Workshop from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Local experts will teach the art of soldering, which is a process in which two or more metal items are joined together. After the demonstration, participants can try soldering out for themselves by making either a blinky-eyed robot pin or a blinky-eyed foam gravestone decoration.
For participants who just aren’t comfortable handling a soldering iron (even with the experts standing by), the library will have alternative materials to complete a “solderless” version of the gravestone decoration.
Pre-registration is encouraged, and for safety reasons, and the library is limiting the event to youths age 13 or older and adults, unless a responsible adult (guardian/parent/grandparent/etc.) accompanies the child to provide supervision.
Open house
The library is also planning a Makerspace Open House to run at the same time as the Friends of the Library annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 8.
“We will have the space set up nicely, some refreshments out, and myself and several Makerspace volunteers available to show people what we have,” Senkevitch said. “We’re hoping that by scheduling the two together people will come shop at the book sale and then poke their head into the Makerspace area on the way out.”
The East Troy Lions Public Library, 3094 Graydon Ave., is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, visit www.easttroy.lib.wi.us or call (262) 642-6262.
