Library spaces

Merri-bek Libraries Makerspaces

Merri-bek Libraries have Makerspaces at Brunswick, Coburg and Glenroy libraries. These are spaces where the community can come together to create, connect and learn. All Makerspace users must be library members, aged 15 or over and complete a safety induction with library staff.

Makerspace safety inductions

Safety inductions take about 5 minutes and will take place during your first booking. Talk to library desk staff when your booking starts and when a staff member is available you will have a short Makerspace tour including safety and usage guidelines. When this is completed you will be able to use any of the three Makerspaces. If you need help getting started with our equipment, consider attending one of the weekly Makerspace Help sessions.

For any other Makerspace questions or feedback, please email librarymakerspace@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or ask library staff to leave your message with the Makerspace team.

Makerspace bookings

You can book Makerspace equipment or tables up to 2 weeks in advance. When you arrive for your booking, show your library card at the desk. Library staff will confirm your induction status and let you into the Makerspace.

Please cancel any bookings you will not be able to attend. If you are more than 15 minutes late and we haven’t heard from you, your booking may be offered to others. Please tell library staff about any faulty or damaged equipment immediately.

If you come to use the Makerspace without a booking and the equipment or table is available, you will need to make a booking when you arrive. If you need assistance making a booking, please ask library staff.

Brunswick Library Makerspace bookings

Coburg Library Makerspace bookings

Glenroy Library Makerspace bookings

Makerspace workshops and events

All our Makerspace workshops and events can be viewed and booked on the Merri-bek Libraries Eventbrite page. ‘Follow’ the page to receive updates about new events as they are added,

You can also subscribe to the Merri-bek Libraries What's On e-newsletter which is emailed fortnightly.

Do you have a creative skill that you would like to share with the community? If you would like to talk about running a workshop or group in a Makerspace, please email librarymakerspace@merri-bek.vic.gov.au and tell us your great idea!

Makerspace Help and Community Craft Club

A staff member will be in the Makerspace to help with any equipment questions each week. This is also our Community Craft time, so feel free to bring in a project of your own and come along for a social crafty time! Share your enthusiasm, ideas and skills with like-minded others. Sewing machines will be available to use.

Glenroy Library: Mondays 12 noon – 2pm

Brunswick Library: Tuesdays 10am – 12 noon

Coburg Library: Tuesdays 1pm – 3pm

Makerspace equipment

Different types of equipment are available in each Makerspace. Check the categories below for further details of models and locations. 

    • Janome 721 sewing machines at Coburg and Brunswick 
    • Janome DC250 sewing machines at Glenroy 
    • Janome 644D overlocker in all Makerspaces 
    • Janome Memory Craft 500E Embroidery machine at Coburg 
    • Janome HD 3000 Heavy Duty sewing machine at all Makerspaces 
    • Ironing board and iron 

    Online tutorials to get started with the sewing machines 

  • All our Makerpsaces have 

    •  Cricut Maker or Maker 3 
    • Fine point blade (paper& vinyl) 
    • Rotary blade (fabric) 
    • Cutting mats: light, standard and strong grip, fabric mat 
    • Weeding tools and scraper 

    You will need to bring your own device with Bluetooth or USB connection and with Cricut Design Space installed, as well as any consumables such as vinyl, transfer tape and card stock.

    To get started with Cricut we reccommend this online tutorial:Cricut Design Space Help for Beginners: Part 1 - Tutorial of Design Space YouTube video 

  • The Coburg Makerspace has: 

    • Fume hood and wet area  
    • Ultimaker 2+ 3D printers 
    • Einscan SE 3D scanner 

    Print files need to be loaded on to a SD card. We ask that 3D printing be limited to jobs that take 4 hours or less.

    Online tutorials to help you get started:

  • The Brunswick Makerspace has a digitisation station which includes:

    • Epson V850 photo scanner for photos, slides and negatives
    • VHS converter for turning videos into digital format
    • Designated PCs connected to the equipment
    • Instruction guides
    • Headphones

    What to bring:

    • Your photos or video
    • A storage device such as a USB stick or external hard drive – or use cloud based storage.

    Please note that digitising video happens in real time, so for example a one hour video will take one hour to convert. Keep that in mind when planning your time in the Makerspace.

 

 

Glenroy Hub Jam Room

The Glenroy Hub Jam Room is an exciting space where the community can work on audio-visual creative projects!

The Glenroy Hub Jam Room can be booked for things like rehearsals, workshops and has all the equipment you need to record your music, podcasts, or other sound projects that require recording and editing.

    1. Please fill out the enquiry form to book an Induction Session. 
      Please Note – If you are under 16, a responsible adult/ guardian must accompany you whilst using Podcasting & Jam Room facilities.
    2. We will then contact you to book your Induction. This will generally take place on Thursdays between 9:30am and 2pm however, there is the potential capacity to be inducted at another time after discussion.
    3. If you’re not already a Library Member, you’ll need to become one. It is free to join the Library. This can be done online beforehand or on the day of your induction at Glenroy Library.
    4. After you have attended your induction session, contact our Team by email at glenroystudio@merri-bek.vic.gov.au to book a time to use the space.

  • The Glenroy Hub Jam Room are only available for use during Glenroy Library’s opening hours.

    These are:

    • Mondays, 9am - 8pm
    • Tuesdays, 9am – 8pm
    • Wednesdays, 9am – 8pm
    • Thursdays, 9am – 10pm
    • Fridays, 9am – 6pm
    • Saturdays, 9am – 4pm
    • Sundays, 1pm - 5pm

  • The Glenroy Hub Jam Room is designed to be used self-sufficiently by members of the public. We won’t be offering one-on-one tutorials.

    As such, we encourage all users of the space to read and/or watch tutorials and guides on the equipment and programs you would like to use (either at home, or on the many Public PC’s we have at the Library)!

  • Yes, as long as one or more of you have been officially inducted into the spaces. If anyone is under 16, there must be an adult amongst the group.

    Please note: If you accompany someone into the studio who has already been inducted, you will still need to have an induction session if you would like to make a booking for yourself at a later date.

    We are able to induct multiple people at once if you plan on using the spaces as a group.

  • Questions about the space can be emailed to glenroystudio@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 699 688

    Bookings (after your induction) can be made by contacting us via glenroystudio@merri-bek.vic.gov.au