Today was symbolically and practically an important day for making in San Diego. The new Central Library opened and the Maker Faire team participated in the celebration with a booth. The building, its resources and its programs all represent the dawn of a new age.
The old library was your classic “shooshing library”. It was all about books, quiet, and shared computers for Internet access. The new library stands in stark contrast. Not only is it amazing architecture, it contains new things and does new things. This library has 3D printers, a media studio, a teen makerspace, and classes on such things as Auduino and Raspberry Pi. It will have a coffee bar and has a juice bar for kids. There’s so much new and different that it’s hard to believe the two libraries are in any way related.
We makers are of course thrilled. Not only did the opening celebration give us the opportunity to have a booth to promote Maker Faire but we were able to make a statement of support for what the new library was bringing to San Diego.
Our booth had 3D printing, quad copters, Arduino projects, vinyl cutting and many more examples of making. Of special note were two hands-on activities: Rokenbok blocks and paper dome hats. Kids could customize and express themselves with both and it was a blast.
We have done many things to reach out to San Diego and this was one of many.
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