As a new semester of school begins this is a good time to review the resources available in ICL’s IDEA LAB, which is our makerspace located on the second floor of the library. Whether you are enrolled in a public, charter, or home school there is something for you to learn and explore. 

Makerspaces employ the “maker method” of STEM education. With this method, learning happens as skills are acquired and questions are asked during the building or creating of a project. Learners are motivated to find answers that are now much more personal through engagement with the build project. For example, once most students have learned how to operate the 3D printer, they gain a spatial awareness of the directions of movement that materialize a 3D object.  

This almost always leads to an interest in learning how to use a CAD program to design on their own. Along the learning path, students become more comfortable with basic computer skills, including downloading and managing files and how computer programs interface with machines for manufacturing products. Conversations around the project might broaden to include ethical and environmental concerns and all students are coached and encouraged on self-education. 

This is particularly attractive to students who need extra help or those who are ahead of their class, are self-motivated, and like to learn at their own pace. It is also important to stress that the IDEA LAB programs are designed for all ages of learners with individual attention based on the student’s experience and ability.  

Along with 3D printing and design, the IDEA LAB is full of a wide range of equipment and programs to assist you in your educational or professional goals. These include but are not limited to die cutting with a Cricut machine; sewing machines and instruction with a practice time every Monday afternoon; video and audio editing which includes stop motion animation, film production, and sound and music recording; electronics and robotics with instruction and practice every Wednesday at noon; and a wide variety of coding and programming options including Lego Mindstorms, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi.  

We spend a lot of time in the fields of aeronautics and rocketry and these mesh nicely with lessons in science and astronomy. Check our calendar for night telescope viewing events. Many resources for arts and crafts are available including the weekly art and knitting groups. And finally, join us on the first Saturday of every month for Repair Cafe, a community effort to keep useful items out of the trash and recycle valuable materials. 

Residents of Ignacio and the surrounding region should be aware that the IDEA LAB at the Ignacio Community Library has been recognized by both state and national organizations for the resources and programs they are providing and the work that has been realized over the past nine years. Our small town is fortunate to have this state-of-the-art space available for all its residents. If you are not taking advantage of this opportunity, then you’re missing out.