Mt. Laurel Library will be a participating site for the first ever New Jersey Makers Day on March 21. Community members of all ages are invited to come for an exciting day filled with activities focusing on maker culture.
NJ Makers Day is designed to be a statewide single-day event that celebrates, promotes and introduces maker culture, as well as the values associated with making, tinkering and STEM-based learning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment in occupations related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is projected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012 and 2022. That’s an increase of about 1 million jobs.”
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. To celebrate making and maker culture, residents throughout New Jersey will come together on March 21 in libraries, schools, museums, homes, and other community locations.
Maker spaces across the state are having a significant impact on education and job skills development by providing access to people, information, resources, and tools that facilitate making to a wide variety of skill levels. Popular equipment in these spaces includes 3D printers, single board microcontrollers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi, robotics, digital media production, computer programming, textile and handicrafts and more.
“We are ecstatic to be able to bring this type of programming to the Mt. Laurel community,” said library director Kathy Schalk-Greene. “Community members of all ages are invited to join us for an exciting day filled with activities focusing on maker culture.
The library’s schedule of events includes:
- 3D Printing Demo & Discussion: 10 a.m. to noon.
Come for a 3D printing discussion and demonstration led by additive manufacturing specialist from NextFab, Alex Kaplan. The program will cover all aspects of the 3D printing process from scanning and computer-aided design to preparing the machine for a print. The program will also include use cases for 3D printing, a general discussion about the future of 3D printing and a question and answer session.
- Make Your Own Rain Stick: 11a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join the Mt. Laurel Green Team and make your own rain stick from plastic bottles, packing peanuts and rice.
- Button making: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Express yourself with your own button creation. Pick from pre-printed designs or make your own.
- Kids Build Workshop: Noon to 3 p.m.
Join Home Depot staff for a free hands-on workshop. Build a toolbox, a riding lawnmower, tic-tac-toe game or a helicopter. All attendees get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin.
For more information, contact the Mt. Laurel Library at (856) 234–7319 ext. 333 or visit www.mtlaurel.lib.nj.us. Find out more about NJ Makers Day at www.njmakersday.org.
