4 ms·

Why public libraries should follow Chicago’s lead and build maker labs

87 points by iProject 13y ago

CodeCube 13y ago
We're getting one of these in the public library in Downtown Orlando, FL ... looking forward to when it opens :) http://tic.ocls.info/ http://tic.ocls.info/
joejohnson 13y ago
I love these kind of "articles." I wonder who gigaom has money riding on?
zarriak 13y ago
Chattanooga has one as well, and a really cool startup incubator, but we have no hackerspace. There should be a daily time lapse gif soon. http://4thfloor.chattlibrary.org/content/about-public-librarys-makerbot http://4thfloor.chattlibrary.org/content/about-public-librar... http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/the-unusual-startup-incubator-that-could-only-exist-in-chattanooga/247498/ http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/the-un...
gareim 13y ago
I live in Chicago and I have to say that the Harold Washington Library is one of the few things I'm extremely proud of. I will definitely go check this out next time and I hope it spurs more Chicagoans to explore this treasure located in the heart of the city.
leoedin 13y ago
In principal, this is a fantastic idea. In practice, sharing a lab is an uphill struggle when the people you share it with are your coworkers/fellow students. When they're just people that wandered in off the street, I could imagine that without very careful control of the situation the place will end up with piles of crap and absolutely no tools. I suppose it completely depends what type of lab they've built. I hope this idea spreads (because I would like to have access to this kind of resource), and I hope it works!
StavrosK 13y ago
Title: > Why public libraries should follow Chicago’s lead and build maker labs Article summary (from the article): > The lab will operate through the end of the year and offer 3D printers, laser cutters, a milling machine, a vinyl cutter and software. Justification of the title (i.e., why libraries should build maker labs), as far as I can see, after reading the article: > resources like Chicago’s maker lab will bring in people who might have never had the chance to build something otherwise. My summary: Why libraries should build maker labs: Because the author likes them.
xradionut 13y ago
As much as I like libraries and the services they provide, (books, internet, study and meeting spaces), I don't think this is a good match. As a member and former member of various robot and ham radio groups, shared spaces are a pain to run. They work much better as a paid coop where everyone has skin/money in the game.
jrochkind1 13y ago
Okay, why? The title says "Why...", but the author does not offer us a "why". And I don't necessarily disagree, but I was just hoping for an argument as to 'why', as the title promissed.
JshWright 13y ago
The library in my town (pop. < 5,000) has a reasonably well appointed maker lab. http://fflib.org/learn/make/ffl-creation-lab/creation-lab-inventory http://fflib.org/learn/make/ffl-creation-lab/creation-lab-in... I've yet to make use of it... but there a few projects I'd like to try out when I have the time.
- cpfohl 13y ago
  I believe Fayetteville, NY was the first public library in the country. (At least they made that claim). EDIT The first to have a maker's lab.
ulzo 13y ago
All the classes are pretty much full, they don't have very good infrastructure but I will camp out there if that is what it will take for me to use a 3-D printer to make an action figure.

87 points by iProject 13y ago

We're getting one of these in the public library in Downtown Orlando, FL ... looking forward to when it opens :) http://tic.ocls.info/ http://tic.ocls.info/

joejohnson 13y ago

I love these kind of "articles." I wonder who gigaom has money riding on?

zarriak 13y ago

Chattanooga has one as well, and a really cool startup incubator, but we have no hackerspace. There should be a daily time lapse gif soon. http://4thfloor.chattlibrary.org/content/about-public-librarys-makerbot http://4thfloor.chattlibrary.org/content/about-public-librar... http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/the-unusual-startup-incubator-that-could-only-exist-in-chattanooga/247498/ http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/the-un...

gareim 13y ago

I live in Chicago and I have to say that the Harold Washington Library is one of the few things I'm extremely proud of. I will definitely go check this out next time and I hope it spurs more Chicagoans to explore this treasure located in the heart of the city.

leoedin 13y ago

In principal, this is a fantastic idea. In practice, sharing a lab is an uphill struggle when the people you share it with are your coworkers/fellow students. When they're just people that wandered in off the street, I could imagine that without very careful control of the situation the place will end up with piles of crap and absolutely no tools. I suppose it completely depends what type of lab they've built. I hope this idea spreads (because I would like to have access to this kind of resource), and I hope it works!

StavrosK 13y ago

Title: > Why public libraries should follow Chicago’s lead and build maker labs Article summary (from the article): > The lab will operate through the end of the year and offer 3D printers, laser cutters, a milling machine, a vinyl cutter and software. Justification of the title (i.e., why libraries should build maker labs), as far as I can see, after reading the article: > resources like Chicago’s maker lab will bring in people who might have never had the chance to build something otherwise. My summary: Why libraries should build maker labs: Because the author likes them.

xradionut 13y ago

As much as I like libraries and the services they provide, (books, internet, study and meeting spaces), I don't think this is a good match. As a member and former member of various robot and ham radio groups, shared spaces are a pain to run. They work much better as a paid coop where everyone has skin/money in the game.

jrochkind1 13y ago

Okay, why? The title says "Why...", but the author does not offer us a "why". And I don't necessarily disagree, but I was just hoping for an argument as to 'why', as the title promissed.

JshWright 13y ago

The library in my town (pop. < 5,000) has a reasonably well appointed maker lab. http://fflib.org/learn/make/ffl-creation-lab/creation-lab-inventory http://fflib.org/learn/make/ffl-creation-lab/creation-lab-in... I've yet to make use of it... but there a few projects I'd like to try out when I have the time.

cpfohl 13y ago
I believe Fayetteville, NY was the first public library in the country. (At least they made that claim). EDIT The first to have a maker's lab.

ulzo 13y ago

All the classes are pretty much full, they don't have very good infrastructure but I will camp out there if that is what it will take for me to use a 3-D printer to make an action figure.