Lexington Park Library To Open New Makerspace, Expanding Access To Technology And Hands-On Learning

Image: Amy Ford, Lexington Park Library branch manager

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Residents of Lexington Park and surrounding communities will soon have expanded access to creative technology, hands-on learning opportunities and workforce development resources as the St. Mary’s County Library prepares to open a new makerspace at the Lexington Park Library.

Located at 21677 FDR Boulevard, the Lexington Park Library will hold a community opening and ceremonial ribbon cutting for the makerspace at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 23. Library staff, local officials and community partners are expected to participate in the celebration, which will formally introduce the makerspace and its resources to the public.

The makerspace will become the first dedicated makerspace in the Lexington Park area and the second within the St. Mary’s County Library system.

Makerspaces are designed to provide public access to technology, tools and training that may otherwise be unavailable or cost-prohibitive. The addition of a makerspace at Lexington Park expands access for residents in the southern portion of the county, reducing travel barriers while creating new opportunities for students, entrepreneurs, artists, hobbyists and lifelong learners.

As technology continues to play an increasing role in education and the workforce, libraries across the country have embraced makerspaces to bridge gaps in access and provide communities with tools and hands-on learning environments.

Image: Lexington Park Library Makerspace

Years Of Planning And Community Investment

Amy Ford, branch manager at the Lexington Park Library, said the makerspace grew from conversations with early childhood educators who identified fine motor skill development as a common challenge for children entering kindergarten. Library staff began exploring ways to connect hands-on creation and learning opportunities for all ages, ultimately developing a vision for another makerspace in the library system that would serve everyone from young children to adults.

“We were listening to early childhood educators, and we asked them, ‘what gaps are you seeing going into kindergarten?’ and they said fine motor skills,” Ford said. “We thought, what can we do here at the library about fine motor skills, well, we can make stuff, kids love to make stuff. It’s an important skill for them to have, and they can work on their fine motor skills at the same time.”

Ford said the project has been in development for several years and was included in the library’s long-term renovation plans. After identifying available space within the branch, the library launched a two-year community fundraising effort and secured grants from multiple organizations, including the Maryland State Library Agency, American Library Association, Patuxent Partnership, St. Mary’s County Arts Council and TEDCO.

“We were really thrilled with the response from our community. People really wanted to come in and make things with us,” Ford said. “The bulk of the funds that we applied to TEDCO, came from people in the community.”

According to Ford, the project raised approximately $96,000 through grants and community support, with TEDCO contributing an additional $56,000 in matching funds. She said community donations ranged from small “keep the change” contributions to gifts of several thousand dollars.

“We were able to put together a large space,” Ford said. “We’re really thrilled about that, because we’ve been having maker programs in our meeting rooms, but people want to have access to the tools more often.”

The makerspace will feature a wide range of equipment, including a Glowforge laser cutter, large-format poster printer, commercial vinyl cutter, sublimation printer system, pottery wheels, 3D printing resources and other hands-on tools designed for both educational and entrepreneurial uses. Ford said the library hopes the space will support students, families, artists and small businesses interested in prototyping, product development and creative projects.

“I’m probably most excited about the Glowforge,” Ford said. “It’s a laser cutter. It’s really zippy and cool when it cuts, and you can cut things like acrylic, you can cut wood, you can even just cut cardboard.”

Ford emphasized that the goal is to create a pathway where community members can develop foundational skills at the library before transitioning to more advanced professional-grade equipment in the community.

“We’re thinking that small businesses can make branded products that they can give to clients, use to promote their business, and produce in small batches,” Ford said.

She said the makerspace supports the library’s mission by creating opportunities for collaborative learning, innovation and problem-solving. Ford hopes the facility will become a community resource where people of all ages can develop skills, explore ideas and learn from one another.

Image: 3D printers at the Lexington Park Library

Redefining The Modern Library

For students, makerspaces can offer experiences that complement classroom instruction. For adults, they can provide opportunities to learn new skills, explore career interests, prototype business ideas or pursue creative projects without the expense of purchasing specialized equipment.

The Lexington Park Library makerspace is expected to serve a range of community members while strengthening the library’s role as a hub for education, innovation and community engagement. Additional details about available equipment, programming and future workshops are expected to be announced as the makerspace begins operations.