First Peterborough County Makerspace Opens at Selwyn Public Library In Lakefield

The first Makerspace in Peterborough County opens at the Lakefield branch of the Selwyn Public Library (SPL) with help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation on Friday.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Makerspace is a place for all ages and skill levels to craft, create, explore technology and share skills using high-tech to no-tech tools.

Appointments must be made to use the space and can be pre-booked on their website.

Everything from vinyl signage to 3D printing can be crafted using equipment such as the Ultimaker S3 or the Cricut.

A $78,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation funded the formation of the creative space, transforming SPL’s former Renewed Classics thrift shop into the Makerspace.

“When you look around this room at what has been done, they have taken $79,000 and they have probably added over $200,000 worth of value for the community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

Some renovations completed through the Trillium Resilient Communities grant include new paint/flooring and the conversion of an old vault into a podcasting suite. They were also able to get new furniture and a security system.

“For quite some time the board has received reports about the Makerspace,” said a 20-year SPL board member. “We weren’t really sure what it (Makerspace) was going to be and what it was going to look like but (the staff) have done a tremendous job with $79,000.”

The SPL Makerspace is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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