Handouts were provided for this Roundtable discussion [ebarta@warwicklibrary.org]
- An overview sheet with the main topics
- 2 promotional brochures for WPL Idea Studio [ see box at left ]
Topics discussed during the four sessions
- Background on the creation of the Idea Studio – empty café space
- More of a collaboration space – a place for the public and library staff to learn, teach, and share
- Definition/explanation from the Idea Studio promotional materials – “a shared workspace and tech lab where individuals and groups can experiment, practice, discover, and create together”
- An overview of the equipment available
•3D printer
•Digital conversion for media : VHS, audio cassette, vinyl records, pictures
•Apple PCs & laptops with media creation software
•Button maker
•Soldering irons
•Cloth cutter
•Meeting space
•Computer classes
•Groups that create things – writing, video, scrapbook, knitting
•Community workbench – fix things for the public
•Open time for people to explore the technology
- Many of the groups already used the library to meet; when appropriate they were moved to the Idea Studio
- Look to the education goals of the community, adults and children, and respond accordingly
- Have to be flexible – let the patrons suggest and encourage them to use and share the space for their own interests
- Many patrons were enthusiastic to share their interests with others and form groups
- Start out with projects and technology a staff member is already interested in – training is easier and more positive
- Expensive – much of the cost was covered by grant money
- A class/tour of the Idea Studio through OLIS was proposed
- The role of the library as a “creator” was discussed.
•Does the role the library plays in the community include using technology in this manner?
•Are librarians trained or the right people to be performing these activities?
•Is a Makerspace in line with the library's mission and goals?