The following is by Barbara Laub, Head of Technical and Adult Services, Maplewood Memorial Library.
Maplewood Library launched its Create Space maker space earlier this year. It offers a variety of high-tech equipment and software for technological exploration, tinkering and learning, including a 3D printer, kits for experimenting with electronics, circuits and programming, a dozen computers, a color printer, and a laminator.
Front left to right: Matteo Nealon, Ikenna Onyekwere; back left to right: Nathan Diana, Robert Nealon, Larry Boyer, Stephen Sebane, Mike Whalen.
Since its opening, the Create Space has played host to many fun and educational programs for kids and teens, including the library’s successful Create Camp this summer.
But the Create Space isn’t just for kids. Starting this fall, the Create Space is sponsoring a monthly Maker Meetup for adults with an interest in the Maker Movement or 3D printing. A team of “Makers,” led by Technology Librarian Robert Nealon, has embarked on a project to build a 3D printer out of recycled computer parts. Anyone aged 17 and up is invited to participate in this project, or bring their own projects and ideas to the next Meetup.
Maker Meetups are scheduled on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The next meetings will be November 19th and December 17th. The Maker team can be found working on their project most Thursday evenings in the Create Space, so feel free to drop in.
The Create Space is open to the public every Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 pm, Thursday from 5:00-8:00 pm, and Saturday from 10-1 pm.—feel free to drop in! The Create Space also offers a Digital Device Clinic on Tuesdays from 6-8, where free one-on-one support is available for using e-readers, tablets, smartphones, or other electronic devices.
For more information on the Maker Meetup, contact Robert Nealon at rnealon@maplewoodlibrary.org or Barbara Laub at blaub@maplewoodlibrary.org, or visit https://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/the-create-space/
