Second Annual New Jersey Makers Day at Bernardsville Library

Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Saturday, March 19 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm to participate in the second annual New Jersey Makers Day. On this day, communities around the state offer hands-on programming opportunities, demonstrations and displays celebrating the maker culture. There is no charge to attend. Just drop in; no sign-up is needed and light refreshments will be available.

At Bernardsville Library, we’ll have many activities and displays–-both techie and craft-–for all age groups. Planned activities include microcontrollers with LEDs in DIY projects; hand embroidery with Beka Baranowski; a littleBits (electronic modules that snap together with magnets) demonstration; a community created canvas quilt; a robotics and Finch Robot demonstration; a teen tech table with 3D pens and a button maker; finger knitting, origami, and a meeting of our Saturday Crafters group; a Makey Makey piano to "play"; clay sculpture with potter Heather Tourville; and a "tiny books" project.

In connection with Makers Day, the library is also holding its second Altered Book contest. An altered book is any book that has been made into an art object. A simple Google search for altered books will reveal a huge range of possibilities. Stop by the library to pick up a book to alter and bring it back before 5:00 pm on March 13 to enter. Or, use your own book if you prefer. The winner in each age category (adults 18+, teens 12-17, and kids under 11 with a parent’s help) will receive a gift card. Winners will be announced on March 19 and all entries will be on display on Makers Day.

The maker movement in the United States isn’t just a hobby; it’s having a significant impact on school curriculum development and growing local economies. NJ Makers Day is designed to be a statewide event that celebrates, promotes, and in many cases may introduce maker culture, as well as the values associated with making, tinkering and STEM-based learning. In 2015, the inaugural NJ Makers Day drew over 13,000 individual attendees to 130 participating sites across all 21 counties in the state. Participating locations included public and academic libraries, schools, museums, commercial maker spaces, and AC Moore stores, as well as sponsorship from such organizations as LibraryLinkNJ, littleBits Electronics, and ManufactureNJ.

For more information, call the library at 908-766-0118 or visit the library website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org.