‘People learn by doing with their hands': A look inside Rockford Public Library's Maker Lab
'Everything from sewing machines, to embroidery machines to Cricut cutters to 3-D printers,' said RPL Marketing Director Bridget Finn.
Finn says books are still at the library's core. But the new downtown library is quickly becoming known for its hands-on learning center that is utilized by hundreds of people each month.
'We have T-shirt presses,' Finn said. 'We have people who come in here and engrave things. We have people who pre-print things in 3-D form. We have people who are learning to sew and are selling those items.'
One of the most advanced features at library's Maker Lab is the green screen room. It's available to anyone in community for photography, online content or TV spots.
'In the green screen room you have lighting, professional lighting that you can use,' said Maker Lab Manager Leon Smith. 'We also have some direct lighting that you can use. We have a Canon EOS R50 [camera], which takes excellent stills and also video.'
And then there's the audio recording studio, where several local podcasts are created every week. It, too, was built with pro-level gear.
'It's about the opportunity to get out,' Smith said. 'It's almost kind of like journaling. You can go from journaling to podcasting. The shows are all across the spectrum.'
The new 66,000 square-foot library opened in June 2024. Its state-of the art amenities and grand view of downtown are appreciated by locals and tourists alike.
'The fact that there's terrace outside, these wonderful windows that look out over the river, the quiet study rooms and the local history,' said Susan Thornton, a visitor from Binghamton, New York. 'And this maker's room looks fabulous.'
Finn added that several local T-shirt sellers and other entrepreneurs got their start using the RPL Maker Lab.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the success, safety, efficiency and sustainability of the Company's well construction technologies, the Company's environmental, social and governance goals, targets and initiatives, and future growth, and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "outlook," "estimate," "expect," "project," "believe," "envision," "goal," "target," "can," "will," and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and judgments and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. 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