Developing Your Patrons into Makers Through Innovative Technology

 

Matt Hamilton and Brian Pichman

 

Every day, companies are coming out with amazing technology that will fit perfectly in libraries.  Through this fun, hands-on session, you will get a chance to explore innovative technology from local and nationwide start-ups. Come build a movable interactive robot in seconds, or program a robot in minutes. Maybe circuits are more your thing so come and build your own set of circuits. You ever see a robotic ball? All this and more will be available for you to play and experiment with. This tech is perfect for your library, and you will be able to start encouraging more makers to make the next big thing at your local library. 

 

Matt Hamilton serves as the IT Manager for the Denver Public Library, previously working as IT Director for Anythink Libraries and the Boulder Public Library in Colorado. Matt's approach to IT is heavily influenced by service design, retail trends, and participatory learning models. Matt has recently completed a book on Makerspaces in Libraries and has been a dedicated Maker since building his first computer as a child.

 

Brian Pichman is the Director of Strategic Innovation at the Evolve Project.  He speaks a lot about innovative technology as a presenter and loves collaborating with both libraries and companies.  He is dedicated to bring libraries into the future using cost effective measures and strategies.  Much of Evolve’s work includes bridging the digital divide, breaking away from "traditional library views", becoming trend setters and finding or building innovative works geared towards interaction and collaboration.  He has also been working with start-up companies across the country, promoting libraries and encouraging people to work closer with libraries in developing new ideas and concepts.