Broken Bow Library to Hold Makerspace Open House Tuesday

BROKEN BOW – The library, our beloved orchard of intellectual exploration, is once again giving Johnny and Jane Appleseeds from sprout to shoot a shot at sowing a few new seeds.

A Makerspace Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 from 4 to 6 p.m., which will allow library patrons and all members of the community a sneak peek, hands-on look at the new technological acquisitions in the library’s collection.

Library Director Megan Svobada elaborates on some of the features of the collection. “We were able to purchase a Glowforge laser cutter; those things are so cool. You can make things with wood or leather or glass. It can engrave on basically anything. We also received a button maker. You can make any kind of button. We have a heat press and mug press so you can make t-shirts, or bags, or coffee mugs.”

Printing and etching aren’t all the Makerspace will feature, Svobada goes on to say. “We have two of the Oculus Quest V.R. headsets, so kids can come in, if they’re 6th grade and above, and they can use it during our open hours. And we also received a Nintendo Switch, and that’s for anyone who is 8 and above.”

Additionally, the Makerspace offers an XP-Pen Artist 12 Drawing Tablet and an AWE Learning Tablet, which adds something for the library’s youngest patrons, Svobada says. “That is for all ages, the littles can even do that. It’s all learning and language development, and those kinds of things.”

The additions, Svobada says, come from the generosity of the Nebraska Library Commission. “We received $16,000 from the ARPA funding which came from the Library Commission, the Institute of Library Services.”

Svobada says that while the materials are freely available to use, they will be for in-library use only. Considering that the library is open until 7:30 p.m. most days of the week, though, there should be ample opportunity for everyone to make a little time for making.

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