Vermilion library opens makerspace

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION — The Ritter Public Library in Vermilion recently invited community members to tour its new makerspace. It's an upgraded area designed to give local creators, entrepreneurs and small business owners access to equipment they may not normally have available. The space builds on the popularity of the library's large-format printer, which was acquired in 2021 and has grown in demand over time. According to Chloe Browne, Ritter's community engagement librarian, the equipment has been especially popular with local business owners and entrepreneurs, and demand, at times, has outpaced availability. She said that growing interest helped shape a broader vision for the space and how it would be used by the public. The upgraded makerspace now includes tools for printing, design and production, including a large-format printer, 3D printer, heat press, vinyl cutter, button makers and computer workstations. Work tables and material storage areas allow users to complete projects from start to finish in one place. Browne said patrons will pay for consumable materials used in projects, but the library is charging only enough to recover costs rather than operate the space for profit. The library's endowment fund entirely funded these upgrades. To celebrate the makerspace's debut, during the tour, those representing the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Browne said the space is meant to give people a safe place to learn, try new things and build confidence using equipment they may not otherwise be able to access. People can use this space whenever the library operates, which is seven days a week. "Personally, I really enjoy this kind of stuff, so it was really exciting for me to pick up the equipment and learn how to use it, see what you can make," Browne said. "That was pretty rewarding."