Library Lovers Day - messages from The Edge

February 14 is Library Lovers Day.  Typically this is a day to hear from library users all over the world on how much they love their library.  People express their gratitude for books, research, librarians, safe spaces, access, information, life-long learning, young readers, community and collections.

At The Edge we have a special set of Library Lovers we'd like to showcase.  These people are passionate makers and designers. They are not your usual run-of-the-mill Library Lovers!  They are a mix of novice and experts, curious and laser-focussed, beginners and accomplished, but the one thing they all have in common is their love of what State Library of Queensland offers them at The Edge. 

Jonathan joined a Podcasting workshop to learn how to use Audacity software and how to kickstart his podcasting aspirations

Kassandra and Tim live in an inner city apartment with not much room for making and designing. They hang out at Hack the Evening to make things, like these pockets for their bike helmets that will hold communication radios. 

Abigail attended a laser cut earrings workshop at The Edge and immediately fell in love with the space, the equipment, the free design software, the facilitation of the workshop, the creativity the experience offered her and the affordability of such an experience. 

Josh is an artist/maker who uses the Innovation Lab to create with more precision than manual production allows. Access to the laser cutters and assistance from the staff has opened many new options including precise movements for kinetic art pieces and short run production.

El loves the unlimited possibilities of the Fabrication Lab's laser cutters.  She is a keen sewing hobbyist and an elegant billowy skirt has been her most recent project.  El wanted bespoke, home-spun looking buttons to decorate the front of it, and these were the result!  El has moved to the northern hemisphere now but still accesses the slq Wiki for maker inspiration 

Mark and his partner Gloria participated in a series of workshops focussed on designing and making your own tea towels at The Edge.  Mark attended expecting to learn some basic sewing skills but instead he also experienced the world of State Library of Queensland exhibitions, State Library collections and how to access them, free design software and equipment, the magic of The Edge building, the patience and generosity of our facilitators Kat and Jimmy AND the possibilities that stem from having basic sewing skills. 

Are you a library lover?  Tell us what you love most about your library.