A birthday party for one of Stratford’s most creative community spaces drew a crowd to the city’s public library over the weekend.
Dozens of families spent a sunny Saturday afternoon celebrating the fifth anniversary of the library’s MakerSpace, where they could operate some small-scale robots, ask questions about 3D printing software, and enjoy a few drum licks from Erik Samuel, a Toronto-based musician who’s been performing with the Stratford Festival this season.
“It’s a really inspiring place to be,” said Liz Anderson, the library’s MakerSpace and marketing librarian. “No matter your skill level, you can come to the MakerSpace and be part of this great community who share ideas, push creative limits, and cheer each other on.”
The past couple of years have been difficult for the MakerSpace, especially when access to its hands-on resources was restricted. Librarians kept the spirit of the MakerSpace alive by offering as much access virtually as possible, giving advice or taking 3D-printing requests by video conference and putting together maker kits users could pick up and take home.
Some of those options are still available. In fact, Anderson said those pandemic-era solutions may have in some ways made the MakerSpace even more accessible than it was before.
Still, it’s been exciting to have people back in the space.
“We’re getting people together and making projects together which is nice,” she said. “Our open labs – we had to do just one person at a time for awhile during the pandemic because of restrictions, and so it’s nice to have that space open again for drop-ins.”
According to the library’s calculations, the MakerSpace has welcomed over 5,000 guests since it opened five years ago. The MakerSpace has also hosted 750 open labs and 275 programs for teens, children, and adults over that time.
“I’m so proud of what our MakerSpace has become to our community,” said systems librarian Krista Robinson said. “We’ve provided a place for people to discover new technologies and try out equipment they wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to use. When people get together in the MakerSpace, they collaborate and support each other, even through failure which is often the best way to learn. The space has really become an integral part of what the library offers.”
Over the next five years, Anderson said the MakerSpace librarians would like to continue expanding its hours and technology to have a greater impact.
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The best way to participate is to attend an open lab, Anderson added.
“Even if you don’t want to make something on that first day, you can see what other people are up to,” she said. “We can give you a tour of the space, talk about what’s possible, (and) maybe give you some ideas about how to bring your creative ideas to life.”