#makerlibraries

by Ann Riordan

We hear a lot these days about Makerspaces. What a wonderful concept - providing a space and resources where people can come together, make things, share ideas and work on projects together. However the ordinary person may think that makerspaces are the refuge of technology and tech enthusiasts. But what about all the creative groups that meet and use our libraries, what about the arts and craft workshops we have hosted down through the years?

We already saw the broadening of the term STEM - to STEAM -  the A standing for Arts. This approach has been so successful, no-one disputes the role of Arts in conjunction with Science and Technology. But what if you are not a child? And what if you are a little bit afraid or intimidated by technology? Public libraries have long offered spaces for groups to meet and share ideas. But we have also moved with the times. Looking at Cork City Libraries most recent events guide highlights the vast range of makerspace activities, be they high-tech, low-tech or no tech at all! I'm sure you will agree there is something for everyone, and best of all, all our events are free!  

What can we help you make today?

Check out our Libraries for:

3D printers and workshops in Reference Library and Bishopstown Library

Coder Dojo in Tory Top Library

Adult coding classes in Reference Library, Blackpool and Tory Top Library

Lego Clubs in all our libraries

Graphic novel workshops for young adults

Portable graphics lab projects for young adults

Comic zine project for children in Ballincollig Library and Tory Top Library

Film making projects for young adults

Videogame club in Mayfield Library

Raspberry Pi workshop in Bishopstown Library

e-services demonstrations in Reference Library, and Hollyhill Library

Make sensory books, a Growing Imaginations project for adults with intellectual disabilities

Knitting groups in Ballincollig Library, Glanmire Library, and Hollyhill Library

Crochet group in Blackpool Library, Glanmire Library, Hollyhill Library

Cork Textile Network events and exhibitions in Bishopstown Library

Arts and crafts workshops for families all year round - including Adult Art Group in Blackpool Library, a drawing club in Mayfield Library

Creative writing workshops, including Summer School of Creative Writing

Make music - guitar lessons, ukulele groups, and Gamelan workshops, in Hollyhill Library and the Rory Gallagher Music Library.

In addition, you can:

Book a room for your Makerspace group

Hold an exhibition of your Maker products or activities

Borrow media creation equipment (Zoom recorders, GoPro cameras).

Use your library membership to take a free online course in Art, Crafts & Hobbies or web development or technology. 

Use your library membership to borrow emagazines on makertech activities 

Durban based Maker Librarian, Stephen Gray, takes us through a recap of the Makerspace’s 24hr Makerthon, which took place in May this year.

In October 2014 FIxperts was invited to participate in the Lodz Design Festival.  Under the festival's theme 'Brave New World' Fixperts and the Maker Library Network joined forces to pilot the Fixhub, a combined makespace, library and gallery.  Fixperts also organised the 'Brave Fixed World Seminar Day', a programme of talks and discussions that explored the culture of fixing now and in the future.  Speakers included Fi Scott of MakeWorks, Dries Verbruggen of Unfold, Nat Hunter of the RSA’s The Great Recovery and several other proponents of the cultural, economic and even political potential of fixing.  As this was the first time that we’d brought an assemblage of voices to talk about fixing, we are making some of these talks available through the fixperts blog.