By Maddie Browning for Denverite
When Stephanie Behrens needed a new way to store her skincare products, she didn’t go to Sephora. She headed to the Denver Public Library.
On a recent weekday, she stared intently as a 3D printer at the Central Library turned layers of filament into a three-tier shelf.
“ It’s really nice. I wish more people knew about it — because I certainly didn’t,” she said.
Behrens recently moved to Denver from Missouri. As she explored social media, she learned about the Denver Public Library’s ideaLABs — free makerspaces where people can create jewelry, 3D print figurines, record new songs and podcasts, and repair rips in t-shirts with sewing machines. She quickly turned her visits into a routine.
“ I would’ve never known about it if I didn’t see a TikTok, so it’s cool that these resources are at my fingertips that I haven’t even really taken full advantage of,” she said.
There are six ideaLABs across Denver, with two more in the works — the next locations will open at the forthcoming library in Globeville and the Green Valley Ranch Branch Library.
Ashley Kazayaka, creative technology program manager at the Central Library, explained that the ideaLABs were originally only available for teenagers. However, adults expressed interest in learning how to use Photoshop and using the recording studios.
“So we moved into this footprint in 2015, and we had teen hours, adult hours, family hours, and over time, we found that just when we’re open, anybody is welcome to come,” they said.
The labs have staff available to assist with projects, from threading a sewing machine needle to recreating a family heirloom by etching a design into wood. Visitors can choose between classes and open lab time — but the goal is simple.
“ Whatever you’re interested in learning, we want to help you do it the moment that you walk in the door,” said Kazayaka.
As Kazayaka walked around the Central Library’s ideaLAB, they observed people making paper art with a Cricut precision cutting machine, stitching holes in clothing and running a 3D printer.
“ All those things can happen simultaneously and I don’t have to say, ‘Oh, you’d like to sew? Please come back on the third Saturday,’” they added.
Jose Cuellar stood by the laser cutter where he was working on a model of a residential building. He needed to complete the model for an architcture class assignment at the University of Colorado Denver, but the laser cutters at school were backed up.
“ I started doing personal research because last project, the same thing happened with the laser cutters at the college. So I was like, ‘Oh, what other places offer free laser cutting?’” he said. “Throughout my research, I figured out that the library does. I just need to have a library card, and since I am a Denver resident, I get the library card for free.”
In fact, all Colorado residents and higher-education students are eligible for Denver library cards.
Gazing at their project with intense focus, Grace Akatsu worked on fixing their visual Pomodoro timer. The Pomodoro timer is part of the Pomodoro technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The timer works to increase productivity and alleviate burnout through 25 minutes of focused work and five minutes of rest.
On the small screen of Akatsu’s device, the user will be able to choose a pixelated plant and watch it grow over the 20 minutes. “ I have a 3D printer at home, and I did the coding at home, and I came here for the soldering,” they said.
Akatsu was excited to use the ideaLAB’s soldering tools because they would’ve cost around $90 for this project.
The first ideaLAB was funded by a grant, but today they’re funded from the library’s budget. “ All of this is your tax dollars at work,” Kazayaka said.
Along with crafting simply for the joy of it, Kazayaka has seen truly impactful work come out of the Central Library’s ideaLAB. A teen with diabetes wore an insulin pump to manage their blood sugar levels and didn’t like how it looked. They created a custom 3D-printed cyberpunk-inspired case to cover it.
“We also had a girl who was elementary school age and in a power chair,” Kazayaka said. “I made a joystick cover for her power chair that was pink and sparkly.”
Kazayaka said the ideaLABs are just as important for learning as access to free books, CDs, and films.
“ I also think the other thing that is really amazing is people being a resource to each other and having that shared community knowledge that I don’t really think exists in a lot of other spaces in our world,” Kazayaka said.
They encouraged people to visit the space, even if they haven’t touched a sewing machine in their life.
“ I know being a beginner and admitting that you are is uncomfortable, but all of the people who work here are here to support learning, and are here to help people get started,” they said. “ The other reality is people can try something, and if they don’t like it, I have so many other things for them to choose from.”
Outside Contributor
Source link