Category Archives: Makerspace

Updates on arts and crafts activities taking place in the makerspace, new maker resources, etc.

The following children’s programs will be offered September 13 – December 13:

Wednesday Morning Storytimes: Wednesdays 10:30 AM
Family friendly stories, activities, and a craft. For all ages.

Open Maker Days: Wednesdays 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Visit our Makerspace to build, tinker, dream and delight in our hands-on activities.
Drop in and enjoy! For all ages.

Arts@Clark! Saturdays: Saturdays 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Explore your creative side! Enjoy our exhibits in the Community Room
and then see what’s going on each week in the Makerspace area. For all ages.

Robin McCahill Drop-In Talk & Art Workshop, September 16th. Drop-In Talk, 12:30-1:30 PM, Library Community Room: Robin McCahill will discuss her work and techniques in fiber arts. All are welcome! Art Workshop, 2:00-4:00 PM, Library Makerspace: Robin will teach participants how to create a simple felted wool rod puppet. For adults and children ages 10+. Space is limited; signups are required.

Local artist Robin McCahill will be hosting two events on September 16th! There will be a drop-in talk from 12:30 to 1:30 in the Community Room downstairs, where Robin’s art is currently on display; Robin will discuss both her work and fiber art techniques in general. This event is open to all and does not require signups.

Then there will be a workshop from 2:00 to 4:00 in the Makerspace area of the Children’s Room, where patrons will learn how to create their own simple felted wool puppet! Workshop participants must be at least 10 years old. Space is also limited and signups are required; you can either call the Library at 203-393-2103 or stop by the main desk to sign up.

Both events are free, and supplies for the workshop are provided. And remember, you don’t have to attend the drop-in talk if you are attending the workshop, or vice-versa!


During the Library’s summer children’s program, our young patrons took part in the All Together Now! House-Building Project – starting with identical paper templates and squares of foamboard, they created over thirty unique houses and yards using craft supplies and their imaginations. At the end of the project, we put all the finished houses together into Clarkville: a model town that reflects the creativity and diversity of our full-sized Bethany community. You can take a brief tour of the completed town using the slideshow above! We will be collecting pictures of all the houses in a book that patrons will be able to flip through when they stop by the Children’s Room as well, and possibly even more exhibitions of the results of this amazing program in the future.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in both the House-Building Project and the summer children’s program as a whole!

Next week’s Makerspace activities are the last of the summer program!
We will be taking a short hiatus until mid-September to plan our fall programming.
Be sure to stop in for “Glitter Fish” on Wednesday, August 9th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM,
and “Design Your Own Boomerang” on Saturday, August 12th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM.
Children will create shiny fish decorations using glitter dots on Wednesday,
and decorate custom four-armed boomerangs on Saturday.

We will be returning to weekly summer Makerspace activities next week, with
“Miniature Basketball Hoops” on Wednesday, August 2nd, 12:30 – 4:30 PM,
and “Design Your Own Pennant” on Saturday, August 5th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM.
Children will create mini basketball hoops with decorated backboards on Wednesday,
and design their own custom sports-style pennants on Saturday.

July 19th – 29th
The All Together Now! Clarkville House-Building Project
is a Makerspace program for children of all ages.
Participants will build model houses out of paper
and craft materials that will then become part of “Clarkville”!
Take a look at the houses in this model town for inspiration!

Next week’s summer Makerspace activities will be
“Giant Tissue Paper Lollipops” on Wednesday, July 12th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM,
and “Magic Scratch Mania!” on Saturday, July 15th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM.
Children will create paper lollipops with colorful tissue paper designs on Wednesday, and make rainbow-colored drawings with Magic Scratch paper on Saturday.

Next week’s summer Makerspace activities will be
“Fish Windsocks” on Wednesday, July 5th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM,
and “Make Your Own Rainstick” on Saturday, July 8th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM.
Children will create paper windsocks in the shape of fish on Wednesday, and create rainsticks from paper tubes on Saturday. We hope to see you there!

All Together Now! House-Building Project, July 19-29. A special Makerspace program for all ages - build a dream house and watch it become part of "Clarkville"!

We have an extra-special summer Makerspace activity planned for July:
The All Together Now! House-Building Project is an all-ages program that will take place from July 19th to July 29th; stop in during Library hours and create a model house to add to the growing town of Clarkville. We can’t wait to see all of your creations!

Next week’s summer Makerspace activities will be
“Build-A-Bracelet” on Wednesday, June 28th, 12:30 – 4:30 PM,
and “Paint A Birdhouse!” on Saturday, July 1st, 12:30 – 4:30 PM.
Children will customize snap-on Color-Me bracelets on Wednesday, and decorate miniature birdhouses on Saturday. We hope to see you there!