The Evanston Public Library is named as a charter member of the New Faces of Library Makerspaces project, a collaboration to build a diverse group of library industry professionals to share ideas and grow workspaces across the country.
Makerspaces can take many forms, from spaces designated with tools and materials for building and creativity, like the EPL 3D printer, to community events like Evanston’s annual Cardboard Carnival, a series of challenges to coding and building games. A manufacturing space can be any space where people work with physical things to design, build, and solve problems to make something new.
The New Faces of Library Makerspaces project is designed to help workspaces grow in libraries across the country.
As a charter member of the New Faces of Library Makerspaces, Evanston Public Library will work alongside other charter members to define the vision for this new organization, design the first platforms for interaction and share resources.
Charter members will act as mentors to other libraries to help build their capacity to create community-focused maker programming. STEM Experiments Librarian Assistant Joseph Kennedy and Teen Engagement Coordinator Eliacsha Madison will lead EPL contributions to the new collaboration.
Selected from among 31 applicants, charter member libraries were selected based on several criteria, including geographic diversity, strong interlibrary networks, advances in equity and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and types of maker programming offered before and during the pandemic.
EPL is proud to join the following libraries in this exciting new project:
Perryville Public Library, Arkansas
Providence Public Library, RI
Pikes Peak Library District, Co
Cameron Public Library, Missouri
San Mateo County Libraries, California
Green County Public Library, Ohio
“Makerspaces engages students with problem-solving skills, introduces them to the engineering process, and can spark their interest in STEM fields in a fun environment,” said Renee Neumeier, Director of Innovation and Digital Learning at EPL. “We’re really excited to be collaborating with other libraries to do this work to share ideas and resources that can benefit both our customers and our kids across the country.”
For more information about the Makerspace programs and services offered by the Evanston Public Library, visit www.epl.org. For more information on Makerspaces’ new set of faces, visit www.makersinthelibrary.org.
