Building on the success of its award-winning Maker Lab at the Harold Washington Library Center, the Chicago Public Library is bringing the 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 Wrightwood-Ashburn, Edgebrook and Little Village Branches. The Mini Maker Labs allow neighborhood residents including adults, teenagers 14 and over, and families to have access to 21st century technology-based activities cultivating collaboration and creativity. The Mini Maker Labs are made possible by generous grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Motorola Mobility Foundation, provided through the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
The Mini Maker Labs appear at the following locations, dates and times:
- July 7 - August 16 at Wrightwood-Ashburn Branch, 8530 S. Kedzie Ave.
1:30 – 7:30 p.m., Mondays & Wednesdays;
11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays;
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays. Closed Fridays.
- August 25 - October 4 at Edgebrook Branch, 5331 W. Devon Ave.
1:30 – 7:30 p.m., Mondays & Wednesdays;
11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays;
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays. Closed Fridays.
- October 13 - November 22 at Little Village Branch, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave.
11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mondays & Wednesdays;
1:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays;
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays. Closed Fridays.
The Mini Maker Labs will be equipped with laptop computers, two vinyl cutters, two 3D printers and a variety of other maker materials and supplies. The labs will offer a combination of open shop classes taught by branch personnel, as well as craft classes taught by local presenters. Each lab will be staffed by two Outreach Navigators to assist in teaching the classes and maintaining the machines. In addition, through a partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, staff from Daley College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program—part of the City Colleges of Chicago’s College to Careers initiative—will lead a series of workshops. Moreover, through this partnership the Mini Maker Labs will also offer corresponding career talks focusing on career and educational opportunities as well as field trips to City Colleges’ campuses throughout Chicago.
Registration will be required as space in the labs is limited. Complete class and activity listings, as well as registration information for the Wrightwood-Ashburn Mini Maker Lab will be available on chicagopubliclibrary.org on June 23. Class activity and registration for the Edgebrook Mini Maker Lab will be available on the Library’s web site on August 11, and the details for the Little Village Mini Maker Lab will be available on September 9.
The Library’s Maker Lab at Harold Washington Library Center is a hands-on, mentor-led 21st century technology learning environment where people with common interests 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.
Since 1873, the Chicago Public Library (CPL) has encouraged lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through innovative services and programs, as well as cutting-edge technology. Through its 80 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. CPL recently received the Social Innovator Award from Chicago Innovation Awards; won a National Medal for Library Services from the Institute for Museum and Library Services and was ranked number one in the U.S. and third in the world by an international study of major urban libraries conducted by the Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf in Germany. For more information, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org, opens a new window or call the Chicago Public Library at (312) 747-4050.
