Library Technology Specialist Nancy Mousseau talked on April 10 about the programs and technologies available in the MakerLab.

On that day, students enrolled in the homeschooling program through the Alpena Family Partnership tinkered with creative technologies in the library’s MakerLab.

“They’ve been bringing their kids in throughout the semester to learn different technologies,” Mousseau said. “They learn 3D printing, they learn about simple machines, those kinds of technologies.”

On April 10, the students enjoyed an open lab day, offering the freedom to use the available technologies on their own.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Sisters Molly Stone, 9, and Sarah Stone, 7, use 3D pens to create pictures on April 10 in the Alpena County Library MakerLab.

“Since they’ve been introduced to this equipment and various things in here, now they get to play with them at their own pace, which is really great,” Mousseau said.

Brothers Jeremiah Budd, 12, and Nathanael Budd, 10, worked together on Bloxels in the MakerLab. Bloxels is a block-based platform for creating video games using pixel art without the need for coding knowledge. Users can create characters, levels, and game layouts, and share their creations digitally.

“You will take blocks and you’ll design it by either taking pictures of what you design on here, or doing it on the app, and you make a 2D video game out of it,” Nathanael Budd said.

“I like that you can move it around and build maps and stuff in the game,” Jeremiah Budd said.

“Some people get super creative,” Nathanael said.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Brothers Jeremiah Budd, 12, and Nathanael Budd, 10, tinker with Bloxels in the MakerLab at Alpena County Library.

This was the boys’ second time in the MakerLab. Jeremiah Budd said he did some design using Tinkercad last time he was in the MakerLab. They both said they are learning and having fun at the same time.

The Family Partnership program operates out of the Sunset School building on Hobbs Drive in Alpena.

Susie MacArthur is a teacher and a mentor with Alpena Family Partnership, through Alpena Public Schools. She met with Mousseau and scheduled the MakerLab sessions for interested families.

“It’s worked out really well,” MacArthur said. “Nancy taught them how to do 3D printing, so that’s kind of exciting … It’s a great resource,” she said of the MakerLab.

Mousseau said the MakerLab is for ages 5 and older.

“Some of their parents have stayed and learned right along with them,” Mousseau said of the homeschoolers. “This collaboration has been fantastic … being able to come in here and get that training is great.”

She said many of the technologies available in the MakerLab can help students learn what they’re interested in and prepare them for future careers.

“I think the most important thing is critical thinking skills,” Mousseau said. “I think that carries on through their adulthood. Being able to be in a space that allows you to make mistakes, and it’s OK. The greatest successes are from people who tried and tried again. Putting them in an environment where it’s OK to fail is just an opportunity to succeed, really.”

The MakerLab is open to the public.

“We have weekly programming for the MakerLab,” Mousseau said. “It’s free. The only requirement is that participants have to sign a liability waiver.”

Open MakerLab is offered from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays, she said.

The MakerLab offers many options, some of which require staff assistance, including: 3D printing, 3D printing pens, laser cutting, CNC cutting, vinyl cutting, a sewing machine, a button maker, a grommet punch, a cordless drill, virtual reality headsets (Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest), a soldering iron, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Dash Robots, Sphero Robots, Mini Sphero Robots, Makey Makey, Memory Lab, Strawbees, Osmo, Legos, K’Nex, Squishy Circuits, Create Bin, Playdough, and more.