Waukegan library opening ‘makers space' for craft projects; ‘We identified this as a need'

Chicago Tribune

13-02-2025

People wishing to put their own design on a T-Shirt, sew a quilt, personalize a coffee cup, design a meaningful key chain or craft a plastic figurine on a 3D printer will be able to do it by this summer at the Waukegan Public Library's new 'maker space.'
Though library Executive Director Tiffany Verzani said the new maker space will not have open hours staffed by library personnel until summer, there will be programs for the public — designed separately for children, teens and adults — starting in early March.
'People should look at our calendar and see what programs we are doing,' Verzani said. 'You can make toys, a vase, art, dice or a hinge for a cabinet on the 3D printer. You can find the (computer) program and our staff will make it for you.'
Participants will be able to make their personalized tortilla holder at the initial maker space lab at 6 p.m. on March 5 on the library's lower level giving the public its first opportunity to try the new equipment.
Along with the 3D printer, the maker space is equipped with a laser cutter to engrave acrylic, wood and glass, sublimation machines for putting designs on paper, canvas and other materials personalizing a drinking cup.
A creative arts studio enables people to edit their photography, video and sound designs. There is a sewing machine and an embroidery machine, as well as a Cricut machine to craft silhouettes on vinyl, fabric or paper.
'It's used by card makers (and) scrapbook makers for embossing or stencils,' Verzani said. 'It's good for calligraphy.'
Jennyfer Cordova, the library's communications and community engagement manager, said middle and high school students will have the opportunity to make a K-pop fun bag to carry memorabilia at 4:30 p.m. on March 10.
Younger children from kindergarten through fifth grade will have their initial program at 5 p.m. on April 9. Rosario Colin, a youth services associate, said the youngsters will be doing Minecraft making ahead of an upcoming move. Registration is required for all maker space programs.
'They can make their own swag,' Colin said.
Taxpayer money was not used to acquire the maker space equipment. Loretta Pable, the president of the Waukegan Public Library Foundation, said the needed $22,000 was raised at the library's 125th anniversary celebration last spring.
Pable said libraries originally started because books were expensive and they gave people the opportunity to borrow, read and return them. As technology changed, libraries began lending movies and even computers.
'Books were the original technology,' Pable said. 'The maker space (equipment) is the newest technology. Other area libraries have maker spaces. We identified this as a need and decided to raise the money.'
When scheduled hours start this summer, Verzani said people can design their project either using the laptop computers adjacent to the equipment or at home. Other than the sewing and embroidery machines, the execution of the project will be done by library staff.
As library personnel were familiarizing themselves with the equipment Tuesday, Cordova was stitching a quilt together on the sewing machine, and Colin was embroidering a design. Colin said the machine prompts the user toward the completion of the design.
'It tells you what color thread to use, and how long it will take,' Colin said. 'It troubleshoots when something goes wrong. It comes with hundreds of images you can do. You can also design your own.'
Those using the sewing machine need not worry about programming it. Cordova said people use it at their own skill level, or take the opportunity to learn how to do more sophisticated work. People from the library will be present at all times the maker space has open hours.
'You can make a quilt or clothing,' Cordova said. 'You can do garment repair, or even make your own clothes. You can make a baby blanket as a gift, sew a button or a ripped garment. A lot of people in the community do not have a sewing machine. They can learn to use this one.'
Members of the public can create their own designs for a mug or T-shirt. With the machine warming to 400 degrees or the 3D printer hot enough to melt plastic, Verzani said trained personnel must operate the equipment. There are thousands of designs available online.