Clemens Library Makerspace

View of a makerspace through glass windows showing a man working inside with various tools and equipment. A table with a microscope and other items is visible in the foreground. The words "Makerspace" are written on the window.

A workspace with two people: one is sitting at a desk working on a computer and the other is standing near a large printer. The room is equipped with office furniture, computers, and a 3D printer. Boxes and office materials are visible.

A display of laser-cut wooden pieces with intricate geometric patterns. The pieces include flat panels and a partially assembled cube, showing detailed circular designs. They are arranged on a white surface.

The Clemens Library Makerspace is a learning lab in which our community is encouraged to experiment, invent, explore ideas, and innovate whether it is for a class, for fun, or to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. Students are often asked to create in high stakes and high-risk moments such as graded course projects or assignments. By making a technology-rich environment available to all students, supplemented by low barrier to entry and low stakes programming, students can recognize technical and creative abilities they may not have realized they have. As a space focused on learning, those using the makerspace and available technologies will be mentored and supported while engaging in their self-led iterative design and fabrication process.

Hours & Location

A group of people gathered in a spacious, well-lit hallway. Many are wearing casual clothing, some holding papers or personal items. The setting appears to be a busy event or gathering, with high ceilings and cream-colored walls.

Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 8PM
Friday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 4pm – 8pm

The makerspace is located at the College of Saint Benedict in the Clemens Library. Click here for map.

Using the Clemens Library Makerspace

Learners can utilize the makerspace, with the support of staff, during open hours. If it is preferred, learners can also make an appointment emailing [email protected].
Use of this space/equipment is free to all CSB and SJU faculty, students and staff.
Please contact [email protected] to schedule a date and time for group use of the makerspace.
Faculty should contact Bennett Frensko, Adam Konczewski, and/or your subject librarian to plan course-integrated or assigned use of the makerspace.

Available equipment

Roland vinyl printer/cutter

3D Printers

Laser Cutter

A large white printer sits on a wooden cabinet. A roll of white paper is partially loaded inside. There is a small yellow toy on top of the printer. Several cardboard boxes are visible in the background.

Four white 3D printers are lined up on a wooden desk, each with blue printing beds. The printers are labeled "Ultimaker" and face forward, with a few small white models on the third printer's bed. Cabinets and a beige wall are in the background.

A black AEON MIRA 9 laser engraver located indoors on a wheeled cabinet. The machine has a transparent lid, revealing the engraving area inside. Nearby, a Husky air compressor is visible, and a view of trees can be seen through a window.

Cricut Maker 3

Bernina Sewing Machine

Engraver

An electronic cutting machine on a wooden table, partially open with a cutting blade visible. Sunlight casts shadows over the device. It has a sleek white design and a digital interface on the right.

A Bernina B 335 sewing machine sits on a light-colored table in front of a window with blinds. The machine features various buttons and an LCD screen, designed for home sewing and embroidery tasks.

Image of a black ST30R laser engraving machine on a white tabletop. The machine consists of a vertical laser module connected to a separate control box. The setup is against a plain wall, with warning labels visible.

Heat press

Button Maker

Tools & Accessories

A heat press machine stands on a table in a room. The device has a lever handle and a flat pressing surface. In the background, there's another machine, an open cardboard box, a chair, and a whiteboard on the wall.

A button-making machine with a red handle is placed on a table. Nearby, there are paper templates and a pair of scissors.

Open drawer containing craft supplies, including scissors, cutting mats, a rotary cutter, and a scraper tool. The drawer has a textured black lining, and a cutting board is visible on the surface above it.

Available Consumables

Four smiling individuals are holding up gray t-shirts with large, colorful letters on the front. They are all wearing red hats, and they are standing indoors in front of a wall with a sign that reads "OPEN.

We have a variety of consumables for use in the space such as vinyl for printing and heat press, 3D printing filament, scrap fabric of various sizes, plywood and button making materials. If you have specific questions about materials, please contact Bennett Frensko.

Use Policies

The Clemens Library Makerspace is a learning space and does not offer drop-off fabrication services.
The creation of the following is prohibited at the discretion of library administration:
- Any project prohibited by local, state, or federal law;
- Any project that is unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses a threat to the well-being of others;
- Any project that contributes to a hostile academic or work environment;
- Any project that violates another’s intellectual property rights;
- Any project that is considered sexually explicit or otherwise offensive; and,
- Library administration reserves the right to disallow the creation of items that are considered inconsistent with institutional policies and procedures.

Highlights: Fall 2024 Course-Integrated Maker Projects

Makerspace staff partnered with faculty to integrate making into the following courses:

A woman in a casual outfit holds up a circular and a square cutout piece of cardboard. She stands in a room with tools and wooden cutouts on display. A light streams in from a window on the left.

GBUS 321, Marketing Theories and Practices T-Shirt Project
Faculty: Steve Schwarz

Students designed custom T-shirts, each creating a unique design, marketing plan, and short video to showcase their strategy. This hands-on project combined creativity with practical marketing skills.
EDUC 241, Fine Arts Pedagogy, Laser Cutting Workshop
Faculty: Alicia Peters

Makerspace staff prepared students Allison and Ava to lead their classmates through laser-cutting techniques for elementary education projects. After completing their training, they guided peers in designing and prototyping a variety of weaving looms.

A group of people standing in a classroom, engaged in conversation. They are wearing casual clothing, and the room has rows of desks with computer monitors. One person is wearing a white shirt with blue and pink text on the back.

PSYC 370, Clinical Counseling Creative Artifacts
Faculty: Amanda Jantzer

Students in Clinical Counseling developed creative artifacts as part of an assignment to promote mental health. This allowed students to explore therapeutic and educational tools in an applied context.
HIST 279, Global Health Public Health Research Artifacts
Faculty: Brittany Merrit Nash

Students are researching various aspects of public health and are creating artifacts aligned with their research topics. This project encourages students to connect historical perspectives with contemporary global health challenges.

Three young men are seated at a table working on a remote-controlled car. One is adjusting the car parts, while the others watch and work on a laptop. The table is cluttered with tools and electronic components.

CSCI 317, Artificial Intelligence Donkey Cars
Faculty: Srikanth Vemula

Students are building, programming, and training self-driving cars using Donkey Car platform, an open-source robotics platform. Through this project, students are gaining hands-on experience in machine learning and robotics.

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