When Madison Public Library received a $100,000 grant to buy and outfit a mobile technology education and makerspace lab nicknamed Stan the Tech Van, officials said they knew they would want to debut the equipment before the van was able to be on the road.
While the weather is not ideal for the library to set up Stan around the community, the library would like to preview the technology somewhere warm and dry — an indoor pop-up event.
On Feb. 21, the library will be hosting an open house in the CreateSpace from 10 a.m. until noon and then from 3:30 until 6 p.m. Patrons can visit the CreateSpace to view examples of what the various equipment can produce, watch projects in action, and even try a few things themselves.
This makerspace located on the east side of the library building is where equipment from Stan the Tech Van as well as building specific creative equipment are available for patrons to use during library hours.
“We will have staff available to talk with patrons about all the different projects they can do with the vinyl cutter, 3D printers, or laser engravers, just to name a few,” Shawn Walsh, Madison’s emerging services and technologies librarian, said in a news release.
The grant was part of the American Rescue Plan Act and funded in part through the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio.
“We are thrilled to have this, the first of two open houses for the community, coming up soon,” library Director Dee Culbertson stated in the release. “We can’t wait to be out and about in Madison this spring and summer, but we want show everyone now what they will be able to create.”
Specifically, on display during the open house will be:
• 24-inch professional vinyl cutter
• Three button makers to make 1.25-, 2.25- and 3-inch buttons
• Glowforge laser engraver and cutter
• Two SLA liquid-based 3D printers
• Two PLA Filament-based 2D printers
• 3D scanner
• Vacuum former
• Cricut machine
• Heat Press.
The library is at 6111 Middle Ridge Road in Madison Township.
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