Library Technology Program Coordinator Etienne Douglas looks through virtual reality goggles in the lab, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Marin City, Calif. The lab is a new makerspace on the campus of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and is set to open to the public on July 9. (Alan Depp/Marin Independent Journal)
A new tech hub is coming to Marine City.
The lab, a project of the Marin County Free Library, is scheduled to open to the public on Tuesday at 101 Donahue St. on the grounds of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
The lab will offer a variety of spots to explore technology, including maker spaces, coding stations and gaming stations.
“This space is open to all ages and features activities aimed at community youth ages 8 and up,” said Lana Adwaran, director of the Marin County Free Library. “We encourage patrons of all ages to explore and play at their local library.”
The lab will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., or on a drop-in basis. Library Technology Programs Coordinator Etienne Douglas said there will be space for about five people at a time.
“At the lab, we believe that creativity and collaboration have the power to drive innovation,” Douglas said. Available activities include 3D printing and creating podcasts with family and friends, Douglas said.
“Our goal is to provide a supportive and stimulating environment where individuals can pursue their passions and learn new skills,” Douglas said.
The lab is the second technology and innovation hub the Marin County Free Library has opened in the past year: The shop at 931 C St., next to the South Novato Library, opened in June 2023.
“Through word of mouth from the community, usage of the store has grown exponentially,” Adlawan said of the store, and the project has also been boosted by a partnership with the Novato Unified School District, she said.
The shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm to 4pm and Saturday from 11am to 2pm.
Funding for the lab’s technology equipment came from the Marin City Library Friends and the county’s Information Services and Technology Department, Adwaran said.
“The Bay Area Discovery Museum also donated some equipment to us,” she said.
Adwaran said library staff will be available during the lab’s opening hours. “We will also be bringing in partners for programming,” she said.
More information is available online at marinlibrary.org/the-shop and marinlibrary.org/the-lab.
