Institutions first offered services to those who developed programming files to be printed but couldn’t afford a 3D printer, costing thousands of dollars. Those most likely to use such a space were people in the math and engineering fields. In recent years the spaces have begun to appeal to larger audiences; at colleges, this means … Continue reading Making It in the Academic World
National organizations like the Institute of Museum and Library Services have recognized the importance of catching up in math and science and are funding STEM initiatives that expose young people to science in creative and engaging ways. Schools, museums, nonprofits, and libraries have accepted the STEM challenge, developing programs and spaces that allow children to … Continue reading Making for STEM Success
Libraries There were two sessions on Sunday that highlighted the awesome events taking place at libraries across the country: “Coworking, Collaborating, Creating at Your Library,” featuring Larra Clark, deputy director of ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy; Jon Marino, director of content and strategy at MapStory; and my colleague at DC Public Library Nick Kerelchuk, … Continue reading Libraries, Robots, and Squirrels … Oh My! Day Three at SXSW
Any library can position itself to guide local authors toward becoming savvy and competent independent publishers. Ebooks and print-on-demand options leverage the strength of their platforms to reach larger audiences and make publishing possible within the library. Libraries can support the growth and autonomy of local writers by connecting them to relevant technology, tools, and … Continue reading Leading Self-Publishing Efforts in Communities
During her Masters Series talk on Sunday morning, Mita Williams, user experience librarian at the University of Windsor (Ont.) Leddy Library, offered an introduction to the many new types of creative spaces that libraries and communities are adopting. Williams began with c-base in Berlin, launched in 1995 as one of the first independent “hackerspaces” in … Continue reading A Field Guide to Makerspaces
“Our Maker Lab has already served more than 42,000 visitors in just 10 months, and this gift from the Motorola Mobility Foundation and our foundation will allow us to offer thousands more patrons hands-on experience with the latest in 3D software and advance manufacturing technology,” CPL Commissioner Brian Bannon said in an April press release. … Continue reading Long Live the Maker Lab
CPL Commissioner Brian Bannon tells American Libraries that the program—already in place at the Harold Washington Library Center and other locations throughout the city—will expand to six new branches. A pop-up version will bring YOUmedia to 12 more neighborhoods, giving teens one- or two-day experiences with the latest technology, he says. “It’s all part of … Continue reading CPL Teen Program Expands and Replicates
Participants at the conference got a chance to tour the lab and other innovative tech-centric initiatives at the library during the two-day event. The Maker Lab has a little over a month left at Harold Washington, before the temporary program ends on December 31. The Maker Lab is the first experiment with CPL’s Innovation Lab, … Continue reading Brave New Library
He began by looking at the history of making in the United States. In 1900, 80% of Americans worked on farms; today, only 2% do, Frauenfelder said. So if you worked on a farm back then, you likely lived far away from an urban area and therefore had to learn how to make your own … Continue reading Mark Frauenfelder Makes Stuff Happen
