The story of setting up, opening, and managing up a new Denver Public Library ideaLAB makerspace at the Sam Gary Branch library.
Background
ideaLABs are makerspaces in Denver Public Library, free community spaces for community members to come together and make things. In March 2020, I was hired along with another program associate to help set-up, open, and manage Denver Public Library's newest makerspace at the Sam Gary Branch Library (SGB) in the Central Park neighborhood. As community driven spaces, each space is curated to the needs and interests of the given community, with tools and materials ranging from traditional handcraft (knitting, jewelry making, drawing) to digital technologies (3D Printers, Laser Cutters, microcontrollers, Adobe Creative Suite), to fabrication tools (sewing machines, power tools, soldering irons).
Because I started in March 2020, Covid-19 delayed the opening of the space until June 2021. As such, this body of work solely reflects the curation of and the works contributed to the space itself. Other work, including marketing materials and workshops, I curated during the closure of the space may be found here.
Initial Space
The initial SGB ideaLAB space
My lab partner and I started with an empty blue room, filled with tables and chairs. From there, we were tasked with setting up and arranging a customer friendly makerspace. As a part of this set-up process, we decided every space design task. This included the arrangement of furniture and equipment (everything from pegboard, tables, and storage units to a laser cutter, a 3D printer, and sewing machines) as well as ordering an organizing consumable and non-consumable materials (everything from sewing machine needles and hand held tools to filament and thread).
Initial Space Set-Up
After many iterations, my lab partner and I opened our space similar to the layout shown above. However, we quickly realized our carefully set-up space did not align well with how customers wanted to use the space. Mainly, we needed more localized workstations with materials closer to the given tool or technology. For example, having sewing bins across the room from the sewing machine did not work well for those working on textile project. As such, we continued to iterate different organizational models until we created a customer friendly space.
Initial Storage Organization Layout
Initial Digital Workstation
Initial Room Layout
"Final" Space Set-up
The "final" layout and organization of the SGB ideaLAB. However, this remains a "living" space, constantly adapting to the needs of its user base.
(Left to Right) Soldering, Craft Cubbies, Digital Design & Cricut
Textile Area
Project areas with corresponding materials and tools next arranged together
Example Maker Projects
A large part of creating a customer friendly space was making labels and example projects to better showcase all the possibilities the space had to offer. Labeling bins and materials helps customers navigate the space and example projects help spark inspiration and showcase different possibilities. Because customers came into the space with various levels of expertise, from the experienced older-adult seamstress to the aspiring elementary-aged engineer, these projects were critical to gaining buy-in from various customers. While I had a background in many digital tools and technologies, I also expanded my own skillset in other areas, such as sewing and textiles, through the process of making various example projects at different ability levels (novice to advanced).
Laser Cut Baby's Mobile
Laser Cut Jewelry and Backing
Laser Cut Mirror
Cricut Stickers
Cricut Cards and Skateboard Stickers (various complexity levels)
Digital Design and Fabrication (Adobe Illustrator, Laser Cutter, Cricut)
Sewn Bag with Laser Cut Design
Sewn Apron
Sewn Zipper Case
Basic Sewing Examples
Weaving Practice
Mosaic Postcard
Other Example Projects for All Ages
Community members making together in the SGB ideaLAB