Bethel University’s new creative laboratory provides resources for student and faculty’s experimentation and collaboration.

By McKenzie Van Loh

Just several strides into the Bethel library hangs a new poster placed next to HC302. The poster reads, “A space to create,” advertising Bethel’s new Makerspace.

Admit it. You’ve poked your head in that door. But perhaps you weren’t quite sure how to step inside and try something out. Well we’ve stepped inside for you. Here are the top things you need to know about Makerspace:

This is your space:

Makerspace is open to the whole Bethel community. According to Kent Gerber, Bethel’s digital library manager, the purpose of this space is to be a collaborative, community based environment.

“My hope is people can learn one new thing but can hopefully be inspired to other things they had not anticipated,” Gerber said.

Reservations are not needed to use the space, however, you may schedule for one.

Makerspace is open Mon-Thurs from 7:30am-12am and Fri from 7:30am to 6pm.

Create and edit digital content like photo, video or audio:

Check a camera out from the library and use the white backdrop to take clean photo or video shots. Then walk across the room to one of the Macs updated with Adobe software to edit your shots. You may even record and edit audio in Makerspace’s audio recording room.

Senior Kailyn Hill recently stopped by Makerspace to take a photo for her LinkedIn profile. Jess Lamb, Makerspace’s student advisor helped Hill edit the photos afterward.

“There’s way more in there than people realize,” Hill said while sharing about her experience using Makerspace.

Make physical creations:

Makerspace is home to a sewing machine, a typewriter, a button making kit, 3D printers, origami paper and much more. All of it is free to use except the button maker and the 3D printer.

A stack of 10 buttons is one dollar.

3D printing under one hour is free. Printing between one to two hours is three dollars. Each additional hour adds another dollar.

Rearrange the space:

All the tables and chairs are on wheels for a reason. Roll the room into small group pods or a conference table. Or maybe you want the room to be a green screen studio. Visit the Makerspace page under Bethel Library LibGuides to see more options.

Editors note: A previous version of this article misspelled Bethel’s digital library manager Kent Gerber’s name. We apologize for the error.