Welcome @Nita ! It’s awesome that you’re taking the mini course. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or ideas. We’re here to support you 
We have talked about a maker space at our library too! Fingers crossed that it happens some day.
Hi everyone!
My name is Jessica Zheng (she/her), and I’m originally from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. I’m a current second-year student at MIT studying biological engineering and will be interning for PLIX starting this month. I’m fascinated by how communities can create open-space learning for youth through libraries, maker-spaces, and museums.
In my free time, I love folding origami, scrapbooking, sewing, and baking desserts. I’ve been trying to learn how to watercolor lately and started with painting sushi!
My hometown library was crucial in developing my academic interests as a first-generation college student, so I’m excited to learn more about this community and you all <3
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Just wanted to add: those designs are so neat! Thank you for sharing!
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Hello awesome folks!
I work in a pretty unique environment. I am the Youth Services Specialist for Kodiak Public Library. If you are looking at a map of Alaska - Kodiak is that big island in the southern area.
Before I started working at this library, I was a classroom teacher and used a lot of Scratch in my lesson plans. So it seemed natural to transition over to using even more mit.edu fun!
My dream for libraries? Be ready to adapt, stay versatile to the communities we serve, and be an advocate for positivity with our patrons. Libraries have already had to adapt from being a place with just books - but I also think it’s important to acknowledge that the things my kiddos want and need on an island in Alaska is going to vary greatly from what is happening in downtown Chicago.
While we recently did the LED light up cards, another favorite from my classroom days, I’m gearing up to try and have a crazy/messy day of Rube Goldberg machines. Gotta use up some of that stuff I inherited in the craftroom!
Looking forward to collaborating and learning from you all!
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Welcome @Ragnar ! And hello from Cambridge MA!
I’m thrilled that the LED light up cards are a favorite. Do reach out if you ever run into issues with sourcing those batteries. We’ve worked with several Alaskan library professionals in the past and we’re here to help.
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How incredibly beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Hi! My name is Carol and I am the Children’s Librarian at Walnut Public Library in Walnut, IL (a small town most people have never heard of 
). I am a retired Kindergarten / 1st Grade teacher and I love motivating children to read! I think that STEAM activities are a great way to hook kids, and I want to learn more about it.
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Hawe’ / Hello to the CoP! I’m M. In addition to my personal social/civic/creative practice as a creative Worldbuilder, I work as the Outreach Coordinator for Studio NPL, the Nashville (TN) Public Library’s teen-focused makerspace. Essentially, have robots, will travel: I take our STEAM-based programming on the road with hands-on workshops.
I was utterly delighted to learn about the PLIX CoP because nothing else quite compares to connecting in a thoughtful, playful way with lifelong learners, and because I just can’t pass up the opportunity to join a community of individuals committed to innovative program design. I believe strongly the greatest skills we can pass on to younger generations are critical thinking and adaptive problemsolving, but that these lessons can be taught in fun ways!
As a maker myself, I’m drawn to interdisciplinary intersections, deepening dialogues while bridging perspectives, and love riding the (very blurry) border between science and creativity….whether that’s in traditional dye and fiber, illustrative arts, mestizofuturism, storytelling in comics and zines, placemaking and interactive installation, code and gamification, and, really…whatever gets my hands dirty and my mind open!
Libraries are valuable third spaces, supporting public wellness through so many ways as well in the accessibility and dispersal of information and resources. My dream for the future of libraries is that they are regular, consistent parts of everyone’s life, regardless of how they are used, and are protected as such. I hope that in this mission, they serve as inclusive, safe spaces for skillsharing and growth, where people can be inspired to explore and experiment, to dialogue and discuss.
Lately I have been focusing on creative writing more, and returning to my roots in game design…which has been popping up in my program design in some fun ways. More to share soon!
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