Donate

Mini Maker Lab
Friday, August 22, 2014
By: Veronica Brown

The Maker Movement at a Neighborhood Near You

Building on the success of its award-winning Maker Lab at the Harold Washington Library Center, the Chicago Public Library is bringing the Maker Lab to several neighborhood library branches.

Starting this summer and continuing until late fall, a series of Mini Maker Labs will be set up at Edgebrook (August 25 - October 4) and Little Village branches (October 13 - November 22). The first Mini Maker Lab at the Wrightwood-Ashburn branch took place July 7 - August 16.

The Mini Maker Labs allow neighborhood residents -- adults, teenagers 14 and over, and families -- to experiment for free with 21st century maker technologies, with help from skilled Library staff. Mini Labs are equipped with laptop computers, two vinyl cutters, two 3D printers and a variety of other maker materials and supplies.

Through a partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, staff members from Daley College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program will lead a series of workshops. The Mini Maker Labs will also offer career talks focused on career and educational opportunities in the technology sector, and field trips to City Colleges’ campuses throughout Chicago.

To view the Mini Maker Lab class activity and registration, visit the Library’s website.

The Library’s Maker Lab at Harold Washington Library Center is a hands-on, mentor-led 21st century technology learning environment where people come together to learn, collaborate and create. Since its opening in July 2013, the Maker Lab has had more than 44,100 visitors, and provided over 445 workshops and classes to more than 5,710 participants.

Last year, the Maker Lab received the inaugural 2013 Social Innovator Award from Chicago Innovation Awards, and the 2013 Welcome to Downtown Award from the Friends of Downtown. Created in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry, the Maker Lab is made possible with grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Motorola Mobility Foundation, through the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

The Mini Maker Labs are made possible with generous funding from the Motorola Mobility Foundation, provided through the Chicago Public Library Foundation.