About Our Technology and Makerspace Offerings
Westerly Library and Wilcox Park strives to support our community members in all aspects of their lives. To help support community members, we maintain a staffed computer lab where anyone can receive basic technology assistance and training, and a Makerspace where anyone is welcome to experiment and get in touch with their creative side.
What is a Makerspace?
Makerspaces are community spaces where people can explore all aspects of crafts and making, using tools that range from the cutting edge of technology to conventional. People can work on their projects collaboratively or solo. Our makerspace is stocked with a variety of tools and equipment for people to use, and staffed by a group of enthusiastic employees, each with their own areas of expertise to help you learn and create.
Makerspace Equipment
Please use this form to schedule an appointment with our staff to use, or learn more about, any equipment. Assistive technology items available are marked with an asterisk (*).
- Glowforge Laser Cutter/Engraver: Cuts and etches various materials (most commonly wood), using digital designs or hand drawn sketches.
- VHS to DVD conversion Station: Converts home video VHS tapes into digital format on a DVD.
- Audio Conversion Station: Converts records and cassette tapes to digital formats.
- Epson Perfection V600 Photo Slide/Photo Conversion Station: Converts slides, photographs, and negatives into digital formats.
- Video/Image Editing Station: Allows editing and creation of digital images and videos.
- Sewing Machines: Kenmore sewing machine, Hobbylock serger machine, and PFAFF embroidery machine.
- Laminator: Preserves documents between protective plastic film such as educational or promotional materials, cards, menus, photos and more.
- 8 ½ x 11 - $1.00
- 8 ½ x 14 - $1.50
- 11 x 17 - $2.00
- Cricut Explore Air: Embosses and die cuts intricate designs, perfect for scrapbooking and crafting.
- Marble Run: Create a course using magnetic and motorized obstacles on a whiteboard easel.
- Light Board: Lights up images to help users to complete drawings and other creations.
- Perkins Brailler: Allows the user to produce braille notation.*
- Scanmarker Pals: Scans, reads aloud, and translates printed text in over 140 languages.*
- JBL Wireless Headphones: Streams wirelessly from various devices.*
- Nulea Trackball Mice: Provides precise tracking, reduces muscle stress and assists dexterity issues from traditional mouse utilization.*
- ProtoArc Ergonomic Mouse: Keeps your hand, forearm and wrist in a natural & relaxed position.*
- Braille Keyboards: Allows a person who is blind or has low-vision access to typing.*
- Large Print Keyboards: Allows a person who has low-vision access to typing.*
- Clearview+ Speech Desktop Magnifier: Displays text at various magnification levels, reads text aloud using OCR to change text into speech to help people who are blind or have low-vision.*
- LED Hands Free Magnifying Glass: Magnifies up to 10 x 7 inches, perfect for books, magazines, various devices, and monitor screens.*
- Pioneer CD/DVD External Drive: Allows users to access DVDs or CDs when connected to appropriate devices, and uses re-writable discs to burn information.
- Yootech Wireless Chargers: Charges most devices wirelessly.
