Today we’re pleased to welcome staff from the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, who tell us about their new community resource: the Launch Pad Makerspace located at their Central Library branch. Thanks to Joy Testa Cinquino for coordinating this article! ~Laura
Credit: Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.
Library as Incubator Project (LAIP): What was the impetus for incorporating the Launch Pad Maker Space into the library’s physical space and program offerings?
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (BECPL): There were a variety of reasons why the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library decided to offer a makerspace in our library. We have observed a general shift in library usage toward the technological while observing the great success of library makerspaces such as Cleveland’s TechCentral, Chattanooga Public Library’s 4th Floor, and Fayetteville’s Fab Lab gave us a starting point and tips to create our own space.
LAIP: Talk to us about the name Launch Pad – how did the library arrive at that particular name for the space?
BECPL:
We were looking for a name that exemplified the creative energy we hoped to cultivate within our space–a place for people to collaborate, invent and create in a communal atmosphere.
We took name recommendations from staff, surveyed others and continued to narrow down the choices. After a vote, we settled on the “Launch Pad” as the name.
LAIP: Can you tell us a little bit about what is offered at the Launch Pad; is it equipment that people can use on their own; are workshops offered; etc.
BECPL: Our MakerSpace offers opportunities for all learning styles. Because libraries have always been about discovering and learning, our MakerSpace takes it to the next step by encouraging the ‘doing’. We expect that through actively engaging with MakerSpace tools and programs, library patrons can learn while having fun.
The Launch Pad is equipped with tools to encourage reinvention of old ideas using new conceptual frameworks, utilizing advancements in thinking, and investigating and constructing their own projects as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educational requirements which are a priority for student learning.
In the Launch Pad we offer a variety of different kinds of equipment for our patrons to use, free of charge*. Some equipment, such as our 3D printers, require a single training session to utilize, but the vast majority of our equipment is geared toward self-learning. Our recording studio is equipped with software like ProTools, Final Cut Pro and the full Adobe Creative Suite, all of which is quite advanced software that can have a hefty learning curve and requires a solid time investment for the uninitiated, so staff are currently available for questions, but can’t commit to full lessons at this point in time.
*There is a minimal fee for materials incurred when one prints on one of the 3D printers.
LAIP: How did the library decide what (equipment, software, reference materials, staff time, guest presenters, etc.) to include in the Launch Pad?
BECPL: We did quite a lot of research to see what other libraries have successfully integrated into their makerspaces and took into consideration our own staff’s backgrounds when trying to determine the focus of equipment and programming selections. Ultimately, we decided to split our focus between youth and adult audiences, offering a variety of educational toys and programs for children, while providing a fully functional recording studio for teens and adults that serves as both a creative outlet and a center for professional development. We also brought in traditional types of “Do It Yourself” equipment such as weaving looms. Equipment and programming available in the Launch Pad, like other MakerSpaces, will evolve based on public need, demand, interest and funding.
LAIP: What has the community response been so far to the Launch Pad?
BECPL: We have had a positive response from the community! Most are excited with the idea of using the 3D Printers to prototype objects. We have had artists coming in to produce and record music, families dropping by to tinker with circuitry, play games and much more! One individual has already recorded over 50 songs in our studio, while another patron has recently been prototyping a design for a hot sauce bottle. Our patrons’ ingenuity is quite impressive!
Visit the Launch Pad Makerspace website.
from Library as Incubator Project » Library as Incubator Project | Library as Incubator Project http://ift.tt/1UIWCDj
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1QqoueF
No comments:
Post a Comment