The Airdrie Public Library (APL) is celebrating the launch of its Makerspace with a party March 16 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The Makerspace has, in fact, been open since mid-September 2018, according to Kelly Kirkpatrick-Lauzon, APL’s operations manager. “It’s a space for all ages to come out and explore new technology, create things, collaborate with each other [and] tinker around,” she said. The APL’s Makerspace is focused on technology. The space is facilitated by a digital literacy programmer, William Bergen, who is on hand during drop-in hours to help the public with a variety of different technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, coding, robotics, 3D printing and media conversion. Drop-in hours for the space run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. “People can come in and play around and use the space that way,” Kirkpatrick-Lauzon said. APL also offers programming for children out of the Makerspace on the same days, during the hour before drop-in begins, Kirkpatrick-Lauzon added. APL’s programs focus on robotics, coding and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) on a first-come, first-served basis. Ultimately, the Makerspace promotes digital and technological literacy among adults and children, which Kirkpatrick-Lauzon said ties into APL’s mandate – to promote all types of literacy in Airdrie. “It’s a big part of our world now,” she said. “Kids growing up, they’re going to need to know coding, or understand at least the concepts [and] the basics behind it. They need to know how things work. That’s the world we live in.” The space is not only geared towards children, however. Kirkpatrick-Lauzon said digital literacy is also important for adults. “Digital literacy is a big part of literacy in general,” she said. “Whether that be computer skills, updating your Excel skills [or] learning how to maneuver the Web.” According to Kirkpatrick-Lauzon, APL has tracked comments on the space and received glowing feedback since it opened in September 2018. During the following month, 100 people visited the space, she said, with 125 dropping in in November 2018. "It's well used and well enjoyed," she added. The upcoming launch party will give the wider public an opportunity to check out the Makerspace for themselves and experience it for the first time. The event has been dubbed Makerspace: Make It or Break It, Kirkpatrick-Lauzon, and will include hands-on activities such as breaking apart an old computer, playing with robots, a LEGO-building competition, coding and circuit building. “We hope people can come out and celebrate the new space with us and enjoy all the different activities we’ll have out,” she said.
