After two years of formal and informal planning, the media center specialists have constructed a game center for Danbury High School students.

They refer to the center as a makerspace in its infancy and are hoping to “develop it into a student center space where learning, exploring, and tinkering can happen,” said Traci Cook, media specialist.

Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces, innovation centers, or fablabs, are creative, do-it yourself spaces where people can create, invent, and learn.

The main goal of the makerspace is to serve as an area for students to create on their own and for class.

“We would like to encourage students to be curious and try different things and encourage teachers to design projects in conjunction with the makerspace,” Cook said.

The center was set up a week before April vacation and is just a small part of what is known as the “Library Learning Commons Concept.”

“The Library Learning Commons Concept is the way many libraries are changing to focus in on technology and critical thinking,” Cook said.

The center provides several activities such as 3D printing, electronic circuiting, coding, arts and crafts, as well as sewing.

The media center specialists sent a google forms survey for students and saw that the No. 1 interest is in 3D design and printing, along with arts and crafts.

“I would most want to use electronics and 3D design because those are ways to make technical ideas more tangible,” said Sunchet Saoji, senior.

As of now, there is little participation and that is with games, 3D printing, and electronics.

“I love the game center,” said Bridget Chiaravalle, junior. “I like to play Connect 4 and checkers and find that this is a good way for kids to spend some of their time,” she explained.

While some students may know of the makerspace, it is still unheard of to most.

“I have not heard of the makerspace area before” said Mya Fayad, junior. “But I do believe it is a good source of entertainment and something I would like to try if or when I have a free period or not much else to do,” she explained.

The media specialists would like to make the makerspace more mainstream by offering more and continuing this concept in the fall through publicity and promotion toward student exploration.

“I would take advantage of the makerspace because it would be a great place to develop my ideas and see where they could go,” Saoji said.