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Belgrade library to expand makerspace and programs after steady foundation donations; hires and summer workers funded
Summary
The library outlined foundation and donor support for makerspace equipment, subscriptions and staff; purchases include a 3D printer and Cricut, LinkedIn Learning access, a new library specialist starting in March and $13,500 set aside for short-term summer workers.
Elena, the library director, provided an itemized summary of recent donations and how the foundations support is being used to expand the librarys makerspace and programming. She said the makerspace allocation was originally about $11,000 and that purchases have reduced the balance to roughly $9,345 after buying a 3D printer and other equipment.
"We've already purchased our 3D printer," Elena said, adding the device cost a little over $2,000. The library has also purchased a Cricut machine and has four sewing machines in inventory; staff plan to make makerspace equipment available to patrons later in spring or early summer once staffing and training are in place.
The foundation also paid for a LinkedIn Learning subscription that IT will configure for patron use, and Elena said the foundation and other donors provided multiple grants and recurring gifts (donors and amounts listed on the record include Mark Sullivan, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Gilhausen Foundation, Weber Foundation, Kiwanis Club, and others).
On staffing, Elena said a new library specialist has been hired and will start in March; the foundation also set aside $13,500 to fund short-term summer workers who would be paid $20 an hour for 160 hours over a 10-week period. The library plans to advertise those positions early in March.
Board members praised programming expansion and partnerships with local organizations and schools. The board will discuss foundation funding at a joint meeting in March; staff said they will present formal usage statistics at the May meeting.
