Historic Triangle residents now have a chance to try their hand at novel technology without having to invest their own money in expensive equipment.
Earlier this month, Williamsburg Regional Library launched two initiatives that allow members of the community to work with tools that might otherwise be cost prohibitive or daunting for first-timers.
A room at Williamsburg Library on Scotland Street has been transformed into the Makerspace, where the public can use high-tech devices, such as 3D printers, a Glowforge 3D laser printer and a Cricut digital die-cutting machine. The space also includes sewing machines.
A separate set of tools called the Digital Memory Lab provides community access to technology that can digitize audio and video resources such as photographs, slides and VHS cassettes. These devices are separate from the Makerspace but are also located at the Williamsburg Library downtown.
Makerspaces are collaborative work spaces that have been cropping up around the country over the past five years or so. The College of William and & Mary has several, while others are located in Norfolk and in Richmond.
All the resources at a makerspace are do-it-yourself. Users must be at least 13 years old and bring their own materials, although WRL staff members are on hand to show how to properly operate the various machines and help troubleshoot problems. Adult services librarian Emma Pruss said that having staff available to demonstrate should help alleviate any intimidation that people feel when using unfamiliar technology.
Some people may be drawn to the more technical capabilities of these tools, according to Pruss. For instance, younger users might use the 3D printers to make game figurines, while older users might make small models or gadgets for use around the home. A small business or nonprofit can create a logo on a solid item with the Glowforge laser printer. The Cricut machine can be used to cut letters or designs for custom-made craft items, such as greeting cards or T-shirts.
Other tools might come in handy for more practical uses. Recently, a local man used a sewing machine in the Makerspace to hem a couple pairs of pants he bought that were a little too long, said Pruss.
Very often, family memories are documented in older-technology formats that are a little cumbersome to access, or would at least be much easier to save and see on a computer, according to Rob Haas, program services and security director. Already many people have utilized the Digital Memory Lab, some of them multiple times.
Pruss said that WRL staff plans to host classes, such as one on Cricut design planned for May, to cover the basics of craft making step-by-step.
Users do not need to call ahead to use the resources in the Makerspace. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Digital Memory Lab needs to be booked ahead of time, which can be done by visiting www.wrl.org/book or calling 757-741-3370. Haas said that a librarian will first get an idea of the scope of the digitization project that an individual is planning, then figure out the logistics of accomplishing that goal.
The Makerspace and Digital Memory Lab fit well into the educational mission of the library, according to Pruss. “There are many different types of learning,” she said.
These initiatives are the result of a national and local trends. Many other libraries across the country have been making room specifically for these creative spaces, Pruss said.
Williamsburg Regional Library has been probing community interest in crafting and creating for a few years. In 2018 and 2019, the library presented programming called A Year of Making that invited the public to try various arts, crafts and technology. Library staff discovered that many patrons were drawn to creating.
During the pandemic, library officials looked for ways to get services into the community because the buildings had to close, according to Haas. And the library has long been committed to adopting emerging technology and offering it for public use.
The Makerspace and Digital Memory Lab represent “the natural progression of what our library has been doing all along,” Haas said.
Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
