One of Urbana’s most amazing resources for teenage makers will be joining the Heartland Maker Fest this year! The Teen Open Lab is a teen directed space that promotes creativity, peer instruction and community building, in collaboration with the CU FabLab, Makerspace Urbana, and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.
We really love their mission and the type of community space they strive to create. As described by them:
The Teen Open Lab is…
A teen directed space that promotes creativity, peer instruction, and community building.
A safe place for afterschool activities and access to creation technology.
A place to do homework, draw, read, or just hang out.
A place for teens to meet library partners and participate in community wide projects.
A mini fablab/makerspace.
And the list of activities they are able to provide is in their library space is quite impressive:
Activities/ Stations
Mini FabLab/Makerspace-Make stuff! We have 3D printers, vinyl cutters, sewing machines, electronics, etc.
AV production– Record music, make videos, edit photos, and more.
Digital Art– Use graphics tablets, scanners and software to make art.
Games– Board games, WII, Playstation 2.
Homework help
To learn more about them online:
- Visit their website: urbanafreelibrary.org/about-teen-open-lab
And them come meet them at the Heartland Maker Fest!
(Photos used from: 1,2)