Have you ever wanted to learn to edit your own film or 3D print your own creations? Or do you know how to do those things and just don’t want to pay for the equipment? The Guilford Free Library may have the answer. After years of work, the library is introducing its own studio space, filled with creative and advanced technology for public use.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, librarians will be on hand to demonstrate all of the technology available in the space. Located on the second floor of the library near the reference desk, the studio space is filled with multiple widescreen computers equipped with Adobe Creative programs, a 3D printer, music recording equipment, an HP Sprout, educational technology, and much more.

The idea for the studio space came three years ago when the “maker space” trend was on the rise. Assistant Director Rob McCoole said the library received an anonymous donation for a 3D printer and the space took off from there.

“We were looking at the model of what a maker space is and we visited several of them,” he said. “What we noticed about our staff specifically is we had a little more artistic talent and maybe a little less technical skill. It started becoming more of a studio space than a maker space.”

McCoole said library staff decided to re-purpose the old reference book section for the space so it would be open to the public, but not right in the middle of the library.

“We got rid of the reference books and moved them into a smaller spot and then added the furniture to make it into a full-fledged public space,” he said. “We thought rather than just put more of the same, let’s make it a unique space.”

Over the next three years, the space began to grow in equipment thanks to three grants from the Youth Advisory Group, a subset of Guilford Interact; two bequests; and donations from Friends of the Library. Now the technology, which can cost thousands of dollars, is free for public use.

“They can check it out and take it home or you can just walk back here and use something—it is free and open like the rest of the library,” he said. “That is part of the reason we are having this event. I think most of our regular patrons understand the space now, but I think some other folks see the reference desk and assume this is somehow off-limits and we really want to make it clear this is a public space. You are welcome it come in and use the equipment at any time.”

McCoole said this studio space is part of the library’s goal to continually offer new ideas and opportunities to the public.

“This is certainly part of a trend to offer more in libraries than people might think,” he said. “It is kind of like how a library might buy an expensive book back in the old days to be shared; now we are buying expensive technology. It is safe to assume everyone has a computer at home, but do they have advanced video editing or a 3-D printer?”

The studio space and the technology will be treated the same as the rest of the library, with one-on-one sessions available with librarians for assistance and different programing in the future. Library Director Sandy Ruoff said she hopes lots of people come to see the new space.

“People don’t need to have any knowledge of anything, just a curiosity so that they can see how we are striving to be, maybe not ahead of the curve but on the curve,” she said.

The Studio Space open house is Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library. For more information, visit www.guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Wonder how a 3D printer works? Check out our video of the library’s maker space at Zip06.com.