Long Beach Public Library To Open New Makerspace April 17th

The Knight Foundation, the Women's City Club of Long Beach, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, and the staff of the Long Beach Public Library have been busy preparing a cool new offering for all ages at the main library in downtown Long Beach.

I met up with Youth Services Officer Francisco Vargas and studio guides Kenny Allen and David Hedden at The Studio, a new Makerspace that will open on April 17th in the downtown branch of the Long Beach Public Library.

It's a state-of-the art space, with cloud based access to the Adobe Creative Suite (CS6), Dassault Systems' Solidworks and more.  The network is brand new - and fast - and brought in by the LBPL Foundation just for The Studio. Both Windows and Apple platforms are provided, and backed up by a number of Surface and  iPad tablets.  When you're ready with your 3D design, you can print it on The Studio's Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer.

Exciting for those who would do video editing is a Padnet TV green screen room and video editing station.  Those who would take videos but don't have the equipment to do so may check out camera equipment from the library.   * A (very reasonably priced) Padnet membership is required for equipment use.

Want to get your videos on public access TV? Submit them and the producer will schedule them, sometimes multiple times!  Hm... now there's a thought!

I visited the space the following Friday for the soft opening and ribbon cutting.  I'd never been to a ribbon cutting before, so it was pretty cool for me to check out the big pair of scissors!  I've got some video and photos of that event, but that will be another post.

Meanwhile, check out the video of the new space and drool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVASqIALr8&feature=youtu.be

Trish Tsoiasue is a Long Beach Maker Mom and writes about Maker culture.  She is working to create a Makerspace at the Long Beach Sea Base and is thrilled to have access to the equipment at the new Library Makerspace!