Identifying your fasteners, making patterns with gaffer's tape, burning marks in wood, and more on zip tie cutting.
The post Tips of the Week: Enlarging Washers, Gaffer’s Tape Patterns, Screw Identifying Tools appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Wang works for Makeblock, and among other interesting projects, has used Mblock to make a gramaphone out of paper.
The post Maker Spotlight: Wang Weijiang appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
| These are beginning chapter books like Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones etc. We spent alot of time last year taking them out of the general fiction collection. |
A contest challenging kids to invent their own dream toy or game and have it released as an actual product.
The post Make: Teams Up with Fat Brain Toys for Kid Toy Design Challenge appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Walkin VR is making it easier for people with physical disabilities to be able to play virtual reality experiences.
The post Making VR Accessible for People with Physical Disabilities appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Three entrepreneurs came together to start a hair growing business, but discovered their product could also help make delicious Kombucha tea.
The post Edible Innovations: Health-Ade Kombucha Ferments in 100% Glass appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
We are super thrilled to share LA Made on the Library as Incubator Project blog today! This large-scale series of cultural programming leverages the wealth of interesting and diverse local talent in the Los Angeles area. Thanks to Wendy Westgate from the Exploration & Creativity Department, Engagement & Learning Division, Los Angeles Public Library, for answering our questions, and to the LAPL for the use of images. Enjoy! ~Laura
Library as Incubator Project (LAIP): What is the elevator speech for the LA Made Program at LAPL?
Wendy Westgate (WW): The Los Angeles Public Library’s LA Made cultural program series aims to educate and inspire individuals in the areas of literature, arts, and music, as well as in other areas of knowledge with a humanities context. It focuses on the diverse cultural landscape of Los Angeles, highlighting the immense artistic and performance talent that has developed under the course of the City’s eclectic history. The overall goals of the series are to attract new Library users, increase year-long Library usage, stimulate lifelong learning, encourage creativity and storytelling, celebrate the history and diversity of L.A., and enhance social and community connectedness.
LAIP: What was the impetus for establishing this program?
WW: In creating the LA Made series, one of our goals was to offer free and engaging programming for our adult patrons, with offerings that represented the true diversity of Los Angeles. In addition, we hoped to win over non-library users and—through our programming—bring them into the library so that they would become aware of the myriad resources and information available with a free library card.
LAIP: Can you give us a couple of examples of LA Made events/workshops/partnerships?
WW: LA Made shines a spotlight on the diverse pool of artistic and performance talent and knowledge that exists in Los Angeles, including art, theater, dance, music, and literature. Examples include performances by the Lula Washington Dance Theater, Klezmer Juice, the Golden Bridge Choir, Karmagraphy Bollywood Dance, Theatre 40, Will Ryan and the Saguaro Sisters, and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles. Other highlights include a series of Tamale-Making Workshops, a Yiddish Cabaret show, and a sold-out appearance by RuPaul.
The one and only RuPaul gave a talk titled ‘Real Talk With RuPaul” to a sold-out auditorium.
Golden Bridge Choir performed a Father’s Day concert. The choir is led by Maggie Wheeler and Emile Hassan Dyer.
The professional company of the Lula Washington Dance Theatre.
Following a screening of the (then) new film “Neruda,” David Kipen moderated an audience Q&A with director Pablo Larrain and actor Gael Garcia Bernal.
LAIP: In our experience, all collaborative programs (let’s face it–all programs!) are messy and challenges arise. Can you fill us in on a couple that you’ve encountered with LA Made?
WW: As you can imagine, quite a number of Angelenos were interested in attending the program with RuPaul, yet the Taper Auditorium does have a seat limit. We attempted to make this event accessible to a greater number of people by arranging for a live video feed to be streamed into a courtyard adjacent to the Taper and set up a Facebook Live Stream as well, which the public could watch on their device from any location.
Another challenge was how to decide which branch should host which program (we had a roster of performers who were willing to do programs at more than one branch). We came up with a plan that required the Librarians to select their first, second, and third choices. We proceeded on a first come, first served basis, also taking into account meeting room size to make sure branch and performer were a good match. We coordinated 88 branch programs this way. Another 16 larger scale programs took place at the Taper Auditorium in our flagship Central Library.
LAIP: What advice do you have for libraries that are hoping to work with local artists to offer community programming?
WW: Do your research by reading local newspapers, watching local TV news, and listening to the radio (public radio in particular). You will come away with a wealth of new program ideas. Never be afraid to reach out and ask if a person or group would be willing to participate—the worst they can say is “no”! Many performers and artists already love the library and are happy to partner with us.
Form a committee and brainstorm all the possibilities for fun and interesting programs. Then divide up the labor and start contacting people and groups to see who is available to participate, and negotiate the best price you can—be sure to remind them that the library is a non-profit entity and can’t pay what private-sector businesses can.
Finally, let them know how much you appreciated their collaboration with the library and that by doing so, they made a difference in the lives of many people.
Sing along with our feather glue gun boa anthem, make your own, and share it with the Maker Camp community on Google+
The post Join in the Maker Camp Fun with the Feather Glue Gun Boa Challenge appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Build your own manual low-tech music box from random knick-knacks that you can find around your house or buy for less than $10.
The post Cobble Together a Low-Tech Music Box appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Can you figure out how to rescue an injured mother hawk and her family?
The post The MakeShift Challenge: Rescue a Hawk! appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Gas stoves are not correctly equipped for heating a round wok. They're just too flat. However, these upgrades can fix that.
The post Upgrade a Simple Gas Stove Into a Powerful Wok Range appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Today I’m happy to introduce Peter Erskine, an American installation artist who specializes in creating Solar Spectrum Environmental Artworks made from pure sunlight. Several of Peter’s works are installed at libraries in California and Oregon. Beyond his projects for libraries, and across the US, Erskine has installed artworks in the ancient Roman Forum, the Rome and Milan railway stations, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt museum in Berlin and sites in the UK and Spain.
See more of Peter’s work at his portfolio website, http://ift.tt/1cqfTaz
Library as Incubator Project (LAIP): What is / has been your relationship to libraries, as an artist, as a reader–however you feel like answering the question.
Peter Erskine (PE): I remember when I was a kid and visited the Wallingford, Conneticut public library Children’s Room, there was a large vitrine with beautiful small stuffed birds sitting on a small leafless bush (maybe 3′ tall) inside its beautiful glass dome. That was more interesting than the books. I also remember always being afraid of the librarian who was always ready to “hush” us when we talked above a whisper. How things have changed. We always had lots of books at home, so as a child 70 years ago, I never used my library card very much. My mom was an avid reader, library board member and head of the new library building committee–after I grew up. When I was an undergraduate at Yale I remember being appropriately awed when entering the long apse of Sterling Library’s (fake) gothic interior and enjoying the comfort of the couches in the Linonia and Brothers cushy reading room there.
Now I borrow videos, music and books from both the Corvallis and OSU libraries in town.
I’ve created 4 “permanent” library Solar Spectrum Environmental Art installations, three of which you can see on my website: http://ift.tt/2t0v0E4
In this video, Peter reflects on his work in public libraries.
PETER ERSKINE Solar Spectrum Light Art for Public Libraries, http://ift.tt/2shkqeX from Peter Erskine on Vimeo.
One recent installation, at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, was triggered by a “eureka moment” on the Winter Solstice of 2015. Erskine was on the library’s second floor, when he saw huge window above the lobby, and realized it was an ideal location to insert a Solar Spectrum Environmental Art installation. He rushed down stairs to the circulation desk and asked the name of the director, and where he could find her. Carolyn Rawls was at her desk in her sunlit basememt office. He pitched his idea and showed her the previous library art installations on his website. Carolyn got interested, and within four months had gotten all the city and library board permissions. The final piece was unveiled by three local children on August 25, 2016.
“Three Secrets of the Sun”, Peter Erskine, Corvallis Benton County Public Library, OR. 2016. August 23, 2016, 2:47:37 PM. Materials: Sunlight, laser-cut prisms, library architecture.The colors, and composition of the installation gradually change every minute, every hour and every day with the rotation of the earth, weather and seasons.
“Solar Spectrum Art,” Peter Erskine, 2008, Fontana, California, Lewis Library and Learning Center – Reading Rotunda. Materials: Sunlight, laser-cut prisms, library architecture. The colors, and composition of the installation gradually change every minute, every hour and every day with the rotation of the earth, weather and seasons.
“Sun Painting,” Peter Erskine, 2009, Lafayette Library, Lafayette, California, 9:49 AM, March 23, 2010. Materials: Sunlight, laser cut prisms, mirrors, library architecture. The art changes dramatically with the seasons, time of day and lighting conditions.
LAIP: As an artist, what does your ideal library look or feel like?
PE: Places of silence and light. Libraries are perfect for my art, because they are places of quiet and contemplation. Time slows down in a library. It’s an ideal space for enjoying the slowly-changing colors and patterns.
Additional information:
The applications are starting to roll in, you better get yours submitted quickly!
The post Call For Makers: Show Off at World Maker Faire New York appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a huge growth in the number and variety of both microcontroller boards and single-board computers.
The post The State of Boards: Small, Simple Hardware Rules appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Funn Fisher started a sorbet/gelato business while still in school. Secret Scoop combines American's cold sweets with Thai's healthy flavors.
The post Edible Innovations: Secret Scoop Brings a Thai Twist to Traditional Gelato appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Maker pros showcase exactly how difficult it is to make hardware, but promote how much easier it is to become a Kickstarter star.
The post Maker Pro News: Hardware is Still Hard, The Rise of Re-Kickstarting, and More appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Maker Share is a new “show and tell” hub for makers to share their projects and discover new opportunities.
The post Calling All Makers: Welcome to Maker Share appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Watch as a toy car hobbyist brings badly rusted and broken Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars back to life.
The post Refurbishing Old Hot Wheels Toy Cars appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Tormach Tech Days will feature a mixture of training and show and tell. Pros from the CNC machining industry will be there as teachers.
The post Register Now for Tormach’s Weekend of Training and Machining Fun appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
A long-time dream project of Hep Svadja has been trying to hack together a way to get her old computer terminal to work again.
The post Retrohack Your Old Computer Terminal from Dialup to Wi-Fi appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Union Station in Kansas City is overflowing with makers!
The post Maker Faire Kansas City 2017: Live Updates appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This week, Mozilla is trying to get makers to decentralize the web, the Girl Scouts tackle cybersecurity, board games go virtual, and more.
The post This Week in Making: Decentralize the Web, Girl Scouts Tackle Cybersecurity, and More appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
To test his skills as a roboticist, Ben Vagle decided to test how his Lego TrotBot robots performed on 1/3-scale stairs.
The post Weekend Watch: Engineering a TrotBot to Climb Stairs and Rugged Terrain appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Now in its 8th year, Maker Faire Kansas City is happening this weekend. Join in the fun and see what the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild is up to!
The post Building 1,000 Toy Trucks: Kansas City Woodworkers Guild Shares the Love appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Another week of useful shop trickery, including a must-know zip tie trick, from makers in cyberspace.
The post Tips of the Week: Zip Tie Twisting, 3D Printing Sanding Grips, and the Orbital Sawing Stroke appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Bayview BOOM teaches teens electronics assembly, woodworking, metalworking and product design so they can build their own boomboxes.
The post Bayview Boom Teaches Teens How to Build Their Own Boombox appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Celebrate the 150 year anniversary of Canada becoming a country this July by building this cardboard maple leaf display.
The post Celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday with a Giant Cardboard Maple Leaf appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
To make their band's performances a multi-sensory experience, The Lights Out added LED wearables and instruments to their act.
The post This Band Goes Multi-Sensory with Interactive Lights and Beer appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Two well-known YouTube makers collaborate on building a portable, multi-roll tape dispenser.
The post Making a Better Tape Dispenser with Adam Savage and Laura Kampf appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Someone showed up to E3 2017 in a life-sized costume of a Watcher, a robotic dinosaur from the Horizon Zero Dawn video game.
The post Building a 13-Foot Long Robot Dinosaur “Watcher” Costume from Horizon Zero Dawn appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
As the week comes to an end, we look back at the wonderful results.
The post Celebrating The National Week Of Making appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Fiona Less and Larissa Russell saw a problem with how we snack. So they created a savory and sweet cookie made of peas.
The post Edible Innovations: Green Pea Cookies Are a Healthy Way to Snack appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
So many makers and such a beautiful location!
The post High Tech Fashion, Low Riders, and Everything in Between at Maker Faire Kansas City appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This Raspberry Pi controlled coral reef tank has a touch screen and web based interface, temperature regulation, and tons of other features.
The post Automate Your Coral Reef Tank with Raspberry Pi appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
You've crashed your snowmobile into a tree and a storm has descended. You're snowbound. What would MacGyver do?
The post The MakeShift Challenge: Snowbound! appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Use Circuito.io to drag and drop different parts together. It will compute all the necessary additional items and give you a wiring diagram.
The post Circuito.io Helps Beginners Assemble Electronic Projects appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This post originally appeared on the LAIP in June 2016.
Lots of libraries provide a “home” for many types of arts organizations, from quilters’ guilds to writers’ groups, who do not have a permanent space for gathering. As a librarian with a performance background, I’m always personally interested when a performing arts group takes advantage of the meeting rooms and community spaces that many libraries make available to their public.
One example is the Brisbane Pride Choir, based in Brisbane Australia. The choir not only just performed a new piece at the Queensland State Library as part of their ‘belonging’ concert, but the members also use meeting room space at the New Farm Library for their rehearsals. As David Hardy, Secretary of Brisbane Pride Choir writes, “As a community arts organisation (for community, read–culturally rich, financially poor), in an expensive city (Brisbane is Australia’s 3rd largest city after Sydney and Melbourne), we do rely on any venues and rehearsal spaces which are free or which discount considerably.”
The choir outside of its rehearsal space at the New Farm Library. Photographer: Tjeerd Tijhof.
Poster for ‘belonging’ concert at the State Library of Queensland. Designer: Jamie Waite.
While meeting spaces with enough room for a choir to rehearse are not available at every library branch in the city, those with the appropriate spaces do not charge for use by community-based organizations with lean budgets. Just another example of a simple but important way that libraries help keep the arts alive and thriving, all over the world. ~Laura
A clock maker tries building a copy of an ancient computer using the tools and engineering skills the original creators may have employed.
The post Reverse Engineering the Antikythera Mechanism appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
In an effort to lessen the toll on bees, Morgan Woolf created Turtle Haus. The company uses sustainable practices that don't stress out bees.
The post Edible Innovations: Saving Bees and Snacking with Turtle Haus appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This week saw maker pros talking about dev boards as Limor Fried recounts the history of Adafruit and Dale Dougherty questions Arduino's CEO.
The post Maker Pro News: Keeping Adafruit Fresh, Fidget Spinner Innovation, and More appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This week we started working on the new issue of the Make magazine, and all the projects that go along with it.
The post The Lab Report: Stomp Rockets, Conductive Ink Games, and More appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Dennis Atwood recently got into the hobby of woodworking. Wanting a sawmill of his own, he built one with materials from his backyard.
The post How I Built a Sawmill in the Backyard appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Greg McFarlane transformed a propane tank and random sheets of metal into a fire pit that looks like a Volkswagen Microbus.
The post Transforming a Propane Tank into a VW Bus Inspired Fire Pit appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Maker Camp returns for another summer. This year's theme is Start Making! and features DK Publishing's "Out of the Box" and "Maker Lab."
The post Join in the Fun, Maker Camp Starts Today! appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This week, Adam Savage toured Artisan's Asylum, Stuck at Prom finalists were announced, and Jordan shares what he saw at E3.
The post This Week in Making: Adam Savage’s Makerspace Tour, Duct Tape Prom Dresses, and More appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Taulman 3D T-Lyne's features make it perfect for wearable applications.
The post Filament Friday: T-Lyne Reshapes Your Prints appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
From woodburning with chemicals to centering holes to running a "grandfather's search," we've got our top tips for the week.
The post Tips of the Week: DIY Pocket Notebooks, No-Brand Woodburning, and Running a Gratitude Loop appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Travel to the demonstration and hold your message high with ease thanks to this collapsible sign.
The post Use Tent Poles for a Collapsible Demonstration Sign appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Artist Dan Grayber combines elements from industrial design and nature to create objects that seem to defy gravity.
The post These Mechanical Rock Sculptures Are Suspended with Their Own Weight appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
A look back at our 2009 column dedicated to lost and marginalized technologies of the past.
The post Rediscovering “Lost Knowledge” appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Maker Faire Barcelona is this weekend! Check out a small sample of some of the amazing projects that the Faire will offer.
The post Suitcase Sound Systems, a LionBot, and 8 Other Projects You Don’t Want to Miss at Maker Faire Barcelona appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
The Commute Deck is designed to provide a productive computing experience for UNIX terminal work in tight places, like a train or airplane.
The post This Custom Built “Commute Deck” Makes it Easy to Work on the Go appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
Spice Mama wants to bring consumers healthy Indian spice options free of additives and preservatives.
The post Edible Innovations: Spice Mama Offers Healthy Traditional Indian Flavors appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.
This year we have the distinct pleasure of hosting updates from Dr. Matt Finch, with whom we’ve worked on a number of LAIP features, as he serves as Creative in Residence at the State Library of Queensland, Australia. Today’s post is an interview with the State Librarian of Queensland (Australia), Vicki McDonald. She and Matt talk future-facing libraries, creativity, and highlight some fun projects featured at SLQ.
by Matt Finch
Over the past year’s columns here at Library as Incubator, I’ve been looking at teams across the State Library of Queensland (SLQ), thinking about how they promote creative collaboration and advocate for libraries as incubators of the arts. From regional programs to themed signature events, heritage collections & musical libraries, we’ve explored innovation and adventure across a range of library activities.
When looking for people doing cool stuff in libraries, my natural inclination is to check out the grassroots work. Staff who interact directly with the community often have the most valuable insights and experiences, and it’s always good to remind ourselves that your pay grade reflects your responsibilities, it doesn’t determine your creativity. The brightest ideas can come from anywhere in an organisation’s hierarchy.
Still, the mood of an organisation is set by its chief executive, so for this installment of my column, I went up to the fifth floor of the State Library for an interview with our big boss, State Librarian Vicki McDonald.
Vicki McDonald, @coffeemiss, returns to @slqld – at the helm this time! – and a new chapter begins http://pic.twitter.com/aMu8wKygUi
— Matt Finch (@DrMattFinch) September 11, 2016
Vicki has been in the role since September 2016. When I visited her at the beginning of March, she was pleased to be finished with her Master’s degree in executive leadership – the last assignment had gone in on Sunday.
“I have two years’ worth of books lying in the ‘to read’ pile beside my bed,” she told me. “I’m just eager to get started.”
Completing the Master’s degree is a major milestone for Vicki, who knows the importance of libraries as learning spaces well.
“I didn’t finish high school, which is something not a lot of people might know,” she explained. “Growing up in the rural Queensland town of Dalby, I wanted to be a schoolteacher, but the prospects of my family being able to send me away to study were just non-existent. I took a job in the town library in my teens, studied nights for my library technician’s certificate at a college of further education, then went on to do my BA by correspondence.”
Since then, Vicki’s career has encompassed public library management, library director and executive director roles at Queensland University of Technology and the State Library of New South Wales, plus strategic programming roles at Brisbane City Council and a previous stint doing policy development for the State Library of Queensland.
“Last time I worked here at SLQ, we had a big overhaul of our building on Brisbane’s South Bank. Looking ahead to the future of libraries, we introduced the State Library’s Infozone – a ground-floor space which emphasised comfort, collaboration, and computer access over shelves and collection items. We also introduced The Corner, a children’s play space for under-8s.”
Talking about future-facing libraries led us to R. David Lankes’ call for librarians to create a “new nostalgia” beyond the old imagery of shelves and silence. For Vicki, spaces like The Corner represent one aspect of that. “When I was at the State Library of New South Wales, we saw that a lot of Sydneysiders had memories of studying for their school leaving exams in our Mitchell Library Reading Room. Now, thanks to The Corner, there’ll be a new generation of Brisbanites whose first memories of SLQ will be boisterous play in a warm and welcoming space incorporating art, literacy, and digital activities.”
“After moving to New South Wales, I kept stalking this library for seven years, watching what they did. That’s the thing – they were doers, an organisation that moved on things. Queensland, of all Australia’s state libraries, is the one least held back by legacy issues – some large libraries are still trying to resolve inherited collection issues which are decades old. We’re not entirely immune to that here, but largely we can focus on the business of the day.”
On her return to SLQ, Vicki toured every work unit in the first months of her tenure, “taking the temperature” of the organisation and making sure staff got a sense of how she worked.
“I met lots of people who look at things in really different ways,” she said. “As CEO it’s my job to give them scope to put ideas forward and the freedom to get things done.”
“I asked each group what they would do if they were in my position as CEO. Most people spoke of change, but one person said, ‘I would be proud of what I inherited.'”
Vicki was clearly pleased with this. “I have an idea of what I’d like to see happen, but of course the best way to build a future is to let it come from your staff, from their collective voice – and to build on the ground of what’s already there.”
To turn creative aspirations into real action, the CEO established task forces focussed on particular challenges such as communications and client-centred services. Staff from across the library were invited to volunteer for these groups, which broke down silos and worked to tight timescales, coming up with practical solutions to library-wide challenges.
One example was a proposed expansion of the FunFaces activity which allows library visitors to digitally transfer their faces into iconic Queensland images from heritage collections.
FunFace Lab is swapping faces as #SLQcelebrates! Come and see us in the Knowledge Walk and be a cover girl, a pilot or a surfer..and more! http://pic.twitter.com/ynrUAu6Kis
— State Library of Qld (@slqld) November 12, 2016
The activity was developed for SLQ’s 2016 Fun Palaces after a previous staff-wide call out for ideas and inspiration from all ranks. Vicki arranged for FunFaces to visit the Australian national library conference ALIA, where it was embraced by attendees.
“If a CEO can demonstrate that they are nimble and will back up their staff, these are the kind of ideas which can come to fruition,” Vicki told me. She admitted she was particularly pleased with Faceswap because it links users to the State Library’s collections: “The collection is still what makes a library unique and distinct from other institutions. Without a collection, why would you have a library?”
“We capture history even as we focus on the future: and that’s as much about ordinary lives and little moments as well as the great and the grand highlights of our times.”
Although any individual library has only a single collection, for Vicki it’s important that the library offers different points of access for users – playful, digital, traditional, or completely unexpected as they may be. “We need to make the collection interesting and offer people different ways to explore it. The collection defines us, but the community can choose to approach it from any angle.”
At the State Library’s South Bank site, she indicated the Black Opium art installation as a highlight.
Black Opium consists of a series of booths along one of the open walkways on the building’s third floor. These booths, which are available as drop-in spaces for study, discussion, or reading, each contain references to Queensland’s 1897 Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act.
Ostensibly designed to protect Indigenous people from the drug trade, in practise this Act led to forced removals of Aboriginal communities and an ongoing legacy of oppression, exclusion, and subjugation. The Black Opium display is crowned with a sculpture of metal poppies suspended from the ceiling.
People work within the installation every day – the booths are among the most sought-after spaces in the building – and have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a difficult and often forgotten corner of Queensland’s history. For Vicki this is yet another route to lead people into the heart of the institution’s collection.
“The power of libraries is in their responsiveness. Our community can ask to see anything in the collection; and we strive to encourage serendipity. If you think of a local public library and the way a community feels comfortable to walk through the doors and ask for our help, our services, it’s very different to how the public treat a museum or a gallery. At the State Library level, that means responding to the curiosity in people – and even encouraging them to be more curious!”
This is a goal Vicki has set for SLQ staff as much as the wider community: “If the public can use the library creatively by exploring its collections, I want a similar freedom for the staff. My authority as CEO is important insofar as it lets the story of what we do cascade from the strategic plans we agree at the highest level down to the personal plans – the wants, needs, and hopes – of our staff. That goes both ways, with staff inspiring us across the hierarchy – but it also means that everyone at SLQ gets a realistic picture of what’s achievable and what’s affordable.”
“The challenge is that our state is so big and so diverse, encompassing everything from the Torres Strait Islanders to Brisbane City Council, the largest local authority in Australia. We advocate for public libraries throughout Queensland; it’s our job to talk with the executives and speak up for libraries, and to support our friends and partners who work in communities statewide. Queensland has to see the ways in which we can deliver on all kinds of good outcomes for this state via the public library network.”
For Vicki, thinking of “libraries as creative spaces” must include not just artistic endeavours, but ventures like SLQ’s Business Studio. This is a space offering resources for entrepreneurs, from which the public might graduate to one of the city’s dedicating startup spaces. “A place like that is about supporting people to write the story of their own lives, in the real world, with lasting and meaningful consequences. The fact I’m sitting here now, at the CEO’s desk, is testament to the power of that kind of narrative.”
Thoughts of those early days, when the boardroom of SLQ was an unimaginable place for a girl from the Darling Downs to end up, bring us back to values and priorities that have remained with Vicki throughout her career.
“It’s funny how you can return to those days of study, when you had the freedom to really explore a topic. It’s something you only get glimpses of now when you write policy and strategy. I remember writing an essay for my BA on freedom of access and intellectual freedom. They didn’t seem like the most pressing issues of the time, yet now I return to them in this age of debates around authenticity of information, “fake news” and open access. They’re incredibly relevant to what we do every day – so I guess you see that thread running through your career, the story of your own life.”
