The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
COME CREATE WITH US AT THE HUB
MakerSpace creative technology open to public at the HUB at Mentor High School
MakerSpace at The HUB in Mentor High School opened to the public on Dec. 3, offering a green-screen studio, laser engraver, T-shirt press and more to Mentor Public Library cardholders.
MakerSpace features several machines and spaces visitors can use to be creative, including a green-screen studio with a camera and editing equipment, a vinyl cutter, a large format and sticker printer, a minilaminator, a spiral binder and a button maker.
“There aren’t really any other places in the area with public access to these services, not at our price points, anyway,” said Ariel Johnson, Mentor Public Library manager of The HUB. “You could go to a local office supply store and have them print a large poster for you, or you can come to The HUB and print it yourself for a fraction of the cost.”
She mentioned that all visitors have to do is come in with an idea and the staff can help them make it happen with the equipment.
The facility features equipment and services similar to TechCentral at the Cleveland Public Library main branch, but MakerSpace is one of only two public facilities of its kind within Lake County.
According to Johnson, the decision to open the resources
at MakerSpace to the public came after school officials decided that it was a waste to close access to the equipment after the end of the school day.
Johnson mentioned that it is an innovative idea to have a high school library open to the public and staffed by public library employees. She added, “The fact that there is high-tech machinery here and the school is permitting the
community to use it... that’s the icing on the cake.”
The HUB was opened to the public in August and MakerSpace itself opened on Dec. 3, after a few months of library staff learning the equipment and writing policies and procedures. Some of the machines require prior knowledge. For instance, glass in the laser engraver must be covered with a wet paper towel or it could shatter.
“The concept of MakerSpaces has been a hot topic in the library and education fields for a while now,”
Johnson said, “and there have been many studies through the years that have illustrated their benefits. What study after study has found is that MakerSpaces encourage creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and innovation.”
MakerSpace is open to anyone with a Mentor Public Library card in good standing. The library will host MakerSpace introduction tours on Dec. 10 at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., where patrons can see live demonstrations of equipment. There will also be an event
at the HUB on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., where children can design and make Christmas ornaments.
“I will find it incredibly fulfilling to see how the Mentor community uses this great resource,” Johnson said “Since the first
day I was introduced to the MakerSpace, I’ve had ideas of how I want to use it percolating in my mind, for both my work and my personal life. I’m excited to see how the space and equipment will inspire others.”