Artists, engineers and creators of all kinds will soon have a centralized location to gather and expand their creative endeavors as renovations are underway to create a makerspace at the Pflugerville Public Library.

A makerspace is an area where people gather to share ideas, use specialized tools and receive hands-on instruction in a project-based learning environment, and the trend is becoming popular in today’s public library systems, Pflugerville library officials said.

Pflugerville’s community-centered workshop, the Pfab Lab, is scheduled to open this summer.

“For the past few years, we’ve been incorporating maker-type programs—everything from arts and crafts to more technology-oriented things like 3-D design and teaching people how to solder,” said Bette McDowell, Pflugerville’s adult services librarian. “The makerspace will be a more dedicated space for us to do these programs.”

McDowell said the equipment is currently spread throughout the library, and classes are held wherever and whenever staffers can find room.

“This will be a room where everything is available all the time, so we can do programs and let people use the equipment on their own,” she said.

The Pfab Lab will feature 3-D printers, electronic circuit kits, sewing and serger machines, scrapbooking stencil kits, a green screen with movie-making software, and a variety of tools and supplies.

“I think a lot of people still think [libraries are] moms and story times, and we’re more than that; people are noticing, thanks to the great programs,” Library Director Jennifer Coffey said.

Funding for the Pfab Lab was approved by City Council in January using a fund balance carried over from a 2008 bond package.

“Pflugerville voters approved a bond referendum election to expand the library in 2008 for $7 million,” Assistant City Manager Trey Fletcher said. “There are other expenses associated with that, an architect and so forth, but we had a balance remaining that could only be allocated toward improvements at the library, so this project will exhaust those funds.”

Fletcher said the bond funds cannot be used for programming and equipment. Funds can only be used for capital building improvements such as permanent furniture and fixtures that have a reasonable life span.

In addition to the makerspace, the fund balance of $158,961 will also be used to make sidewalk improvements, relocate the computer lab and add shade to the library’s courtyard.

“It will be tight, but we anticipate it will be complete by June,” Fletcher said.

After completion, library directors hope to offset the Pfab Lab’s operational costs by increasing the number of volunteer instructors teaching classes and using an expanded volunteer force to assist library staff in supervising the makerspace area and use of equipment.

“One thing I’ve noticed about these programs is they’re attracting a lot more young men—teens to 30s—which is kind of a hard group to get into the library. We also see a lot more fathers involved in the family-type programming,” Coffey said.

Assistant Library Director Daniel Berra said he believes interactive learning in a cost-free environment is what contributes to the popularity of a makerspace.

“I think it’s the hands-on [aspect]—the idea that you can learn about something by actually doing it—and I think that appeals to a lot of people. It’s part of our overall re-imagining of libraries—opening it up to different things, and not just being all about books—that’s changing the traditional role of libraries,” Berra said.