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Some library spaces, collections, and services have limited availability until August 3, as we move into Carrier Library – Read More about Some library spaces, collections, and services have limited availability until August 3, as we move into Carrier Library

The Makery in Carrier Library Reopens with Even More Opportunities to Create

Posted July 17, 2026 in Uncategorized

When Carrier Library reopens after its renovation and expansion, the JMU community will once again find well-equipped, fully staffed creative learning spaces in both Rose Library and Carrier Library (reopening August 3).

The new and improved design for The Makery in Carrier was built on nearly a decade of JMU Libraries’ experience operating makerspaces. While many of the same tools that students and faculty have come to know and love will be available in both Makery locations, The Makery in Carrier offers significantly more space, expanded capacity, and new opportunities for collaboration.

“We’ve transformed our spaces to offer students access to new, modern equipment,” said Andrew Strack, Director of Media Production and Makerspace Services. “From prototyping designs and capturing high-quality media recordings to exploring creative activities, our upgraded facilities are designed to support coursework and curiosity. Best of all, our expert staff are now located right where the action is, ready to support students and faculty as they work.”

One of the biggest changes is scale. Compared to pre-renovation, The Makery will more than double its fleet of 3D printers. A new industrial laser cutter will complete projects roughly 10 times faster than the previous machine, helping people spend less time waiting and more time creating.

The new space was designed specifically to support makerspace activities. Dedicated ventilation, plumbing and other infrastructure make equipment safer and more efficient to operate while creating opportunities to expand services in the future.

Both locations will offer The Makery’s most popular resources, including:

Painting and block-printing supplies are moving to Carrier, where the new space was designed with a sink to support those activities.

A Makerspace for Everyone

Unlike the spaces that serve individual academic programs, The Makery is open to the entire JMU community.

Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to explore creative technologies, develop practical skills, and bring their ideas to life, regardless of their academic background.

For Dan Easley, one of The Makery’s managers, that broad access is one of the space’s greatest strengths: “I’m personally really excited to increase our offerings of teaching fabrication skills, troubleshooting skills, and collaboration skills on this side of campus.”

Learning by Making

The Makery supports learning both in and out of the classroom.

Last semester alone, Makery staff collaborated with JMU faculty teaching courses in Media Arts & Design, Management, Hospitality Management, Art, and Religion, giving students access to professional equipment and expert help through the Libraries.

Projects don’t have to be tied to a course, however. Staff help users get started with equipment and software, answer questions, and troubleshoot challenges regardless of what they’re creating. Rather than completing projects for users, the goal is to help them develop the skills and confidence to create independently.

Whether someone is learning to sew, preparing a model for 3D printing, scanning an object into a digital model, or exploring Adobe Creative Cloud, staff focus on building knowledge through hands-on experience.

“Users can access learning materials to get started, attend workshops that teach skills in small group settings, and receive guidance from staff along the way,” Strack said. “We emphasize that experimentation, failure, and iteration are all part of the process. None of us started as experts.”

Just outside The Makery, computers equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud and other design software provide additional opportunities for content creation and digital projects.

Designed for Collaboration

The Makery’s new location also strengthens connections with other library services on the second floor of Carrier Library.

A glass-walled space with three entrances, The Makery is near our Audio/Video Studio for students and faculty, the Digital Scholarship and Distinctive Collections department, the Learning Innovations & Design Desk, and the Library Futures classroom. Together, these neighboring spaces create new opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to move between digital design, fabrication, preservation and hands-on creative work.

Andrew Strack, who oversees The Makery, media production services, and the Audio/Video Studio is excited to have these related spaces located next to each other with the offices of expert staff only a few steps away.

Andrea Adams, Associate Dean for Learning Innovations & Design, saw the potential early on for The Makery to be positioned near the Learning Innovations & Design Desk, where the campus community can borrow equipment and get help with Canvas, classroom technology, instructional design, and more.

Reflecting on the benefit of having all these units located on Carrier Library’s second floor, Adams said, “By bringing these services together, we’ve created a network of expertise and resources that makes it easy for the JMU community to explore ideas, develop new skills, and connect their academic and creative work in meaningful ways.”

Getting Started

Before using The Makery, visitors complete a brief online orientation module introducing the space, available services, and important safety expectations. The online orientation helps users understand what to expect while ensuring everyone can safely operate the equipment.

Unlike many educational settings, The Makery emphasizes exploration and learning without grades or formal evaluation.

“It’s a space to learn how to make things,” Easley said. “Most educational opportunities on campus are very formalized. The makerspace is an educational opportunity where you won’t be judged for making a mistake.”

As Carrier Library opens its doors once again, The Makery will offer students more room to experiment, more tools to explore, and more opportunities to learn by creating, continuing JMU Libraries’ commitment to making creative technologies accessible to everyone.