Soft opening planned for Saturday
For the first time, the library will open its makerspace craft room Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Located on the second floor of the West Regional Library in Luling, the makerspace room includes a variety of tools, including pin-back button makers, a sublimation printer, heat presses, sewing machines, an electric fabric cutter and a Cricut vinyl and paper cutter.
The room also has two 3D printers and a laser engraver, which staff will operate to assist patrons with projects.
Gina Kissee, the makerspace coordinator, said the room will be an interactive place for the community to stop in, take classes, or ask for help with their own projects.
“During our summer soft opening hours, patrons will be invited to take a look around the space and participate in simple projects,” Kissee said. “They can also bring ideas and materials from home to work on with the makerspace equipment.”
She said there will always be a library staff member in the space to guide and support patrons as they experiment with the equipment.
The space is designed for adults and teenagers over the age of 15. Children and teens under 15 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Some tools require a small fee. The price list is on the library’s website and posted in the makerspace.
During its soft opening this summer, reservations for the room are not required.
Lauren Campo-Pitz, the assistant director of the library, said everyone is invited to visit the space on the opening day and during the space’s summer house.
“Visitors will be able to explore the space and its tools during our summer open hours,” Pitz said. “For now, there will be simple projects on display that patrons will be invited to interact with when visiting the space.”
Some of those activities will include button and sticker making.
After the grand opening of the space this fall, the library staff will offer tutorials on how to use various tools throughout the makerspace. One-on-one appointments with staff will also be available in the fall, and the library will plan drop-in and registered programs for the space.
Pitz said she wants residents to know that this space is for them no matter their experience level with the tools.
“We want the makerspace to be a relaxed environment for exploration and experimentation with tools that they might not have a chance to use elsewhere,” she said.
Libraries around the country have created makerspaces in their buildings for many years, Pitz said.
“It’s something we have also talked about for many years, after seeing how popular they were in other locations, as well as thinking about how our patrons might use a space like that,” Pitz said. “Our craft programs are some of our most popular ones for all age groups, so we know that our community is full of very creative, curious people who would benefit from having a makerspace close to home.”
The second-floor room, where the makerspace now sits, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ida. Staff decided to move the local history materials from the second-floor room to the Hahnville Branch after the storm.
“We realized that room could be repurposed as a makerspace,” Pitz said. “Our library board members were also interested in pursuing this idea, so we started planning. We visited local libraries that have makerspaces to see what tools they had and how their spaces were set up and managed. We learned so much from these visits.”
Kissee said the library’s goal was to create a space where patrons can feel comfortable exploring new creative endeavors, learning new skills and making mistakes.
“We want patrons to know the space is still growing and adapting, with a goal of offering all of our intended services in the fall – and perhaps expanding those services in the future,” she said. “We also hope that the experienced makers across the parish will visit the space and be willing to share their expertise.”
