Article by Stephanie Hobby | Photos by Jamie Blotske

In a world where the click of a smartphone button can bring a doorstep delivery within hours, making things for yourself has become something of a lost art. But recent years have seen an uptick in DIYers, and there has been a shift toward original creations and embracing your inner craftsman.

Thanks to YouTube channels and Pinterest boards, finding the “how” to bring your idea to life has never been easier. However, finding the necessary equipment can be more problematic. A new maker space, CO+LAB, at the Billings Public Library offers various gear and hands-on classes to help generate more creativity in the Magic City.

“There has been a resurgence of doing more hands-on, creating your own work, and stepping away from reliance on big businesses,” said Taylor Arnold, CO+LAB Librarian at Billings Public Library. “A lot of this equipment is very approachable, and folks can just come in and learn to use emerging technologies and kind of goof off and play around and get an idea about how things work.”

While approachable, much of the gear is an excellent introduction to more complex ideas associated with STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. To get started, patrons need to take an in-person class, or use the online platform Moodle, to get certified on a specific machine. Once you’ve earned your badge for a particular piece of equipment, and signed the user agreement, you’re all set to work on your project at CO+LAB. Makers aged 12-18 can use the space independently after completing the introductory course and equipment certifications, but must have a parent or guardian sign the check-in agreement before each session.

At CO+LAB, you’ll find Snapmaker and Prusa 3D printers, a Glowforge, which is a laser engraver and cutter that can etch wood, leather, glass, and more, a Cricut Venture that produces die-cut fabric, vinyl, and paper, and sewing machines and a serger. There’s a media production sound booth where users can record music, podcasts, or videos, with professional-grade software and equipment. CO+LAB also has a Charlie Cart, a mobile kitchen for hands-on culinary workshops, where students can learn about food science and healthy cooking. Although patrons can work independently, a librarian is always present to ensure that all equipment is used safely.

For those that prefer to do projects at home, the library offers a growing number of kits through CO+LAB2GO that can be checked out for two weeks, including a podcasting kit with a sound board and microphone, a vlogging kit, a Toybox 3D printer kit, a Cricut Joy and Cricut Joy Xtra kit, a movie night kit with a projector and screen, and a party kit with a karaoke machine and disco lights. For more DIY fun at home, your library card gives you access to Creativebug.com, similar to YouTube, but focused on craft instruction for sewing, crochet, journaling, watercolor, or drawing.

In-person classes and drop-in hours are a great way to learn the basics of the machines, but checking them out for home use can take your knowledge to the next level. “You might get to try out the 3D printer during drop-in hours, but you’re limited to your reservation time. You could check out the Toybox and use it for two weeks and make all sorts of projects,” said Teen Librarian Sierra Hoy.

The library provides supplies for initial use while you learn, but patrons must provide their own compatible supplies with the equipment for subsequent reservations or large projects.

Housed in the former Teen Tech Lab, the space got a colorful makeover with large geometric shapes on the walls and innovative lighting. The space still caters to teens, but now has a broader reach. Word is still getting out about the newly renovated space, and librarians say they’re seeing increased interest and more use as people get certified, so they’re already making plans to expand.

“We are absolutely planning to grow. There are already things we have in mind that we want to add in the future,” Hoy said. “With the CO+LAB2GO kits, we have drones and VR headsets that we want to include. There's definitely more room to grow with both the kits and what's available in-house for our equipment.”

Arnold said that will include in-person training sessions too. “We’d like to start incorporating more advanced classes and special guest workshops. A lot of the classes right now are things like Intro to 3D printing or Intro to Using the Glowforge. But in the future, we could offer more project-based or in-depth, like, how you actually render a 3D model or use the sound booth to create a podcast,” he said. “We could get folks from the community who are sound engineers or makers to lead workshops. That’s another kind of growth we look forward to.”

Hoy and Arnold say they’ve already seen amazing creations, including one from a woman sewing traditional Native American ribbon skirts for her daughters and another from a patron who built a birdhouse.

The CO+LAB was made possible by grants from two in-house organizations: the Friends of the Billings Public Library and the Billings Public Library Foundation. For more information, including certification requirements, drop-in hours, and workshops, visit www.billingslibrary.org/535/COLAB

Originally printed in the April 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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