When Jeanne Hellman discovered the Fond du Lac Public Library’s Idea Studio upon her retirement, she worried that she would be overwhelmed by the makerspace.
“I was scared to death because I really have no artistic talent whatsoever,” she said, laughing.
It took just one training session to be hooked.
“After that class, I have been here ever since,” she said. “I just absolutely love it.”
Experiences like this are what have made the Idea Studio a special place for many throughout the past decade. And on Saturday, July 18, the makerspace will celebrate its role in the community with a special 10th-anniversary event from noon to 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public, the 10th– Anniversary Make-tacular will be a chance for the community to drop in, discover the equipment available in the Idea Studio, make fun, customized crafts such as keychains, watch demonstrations of the equipment in action, and enjoy light refreshments and snacks.
Idea Studio equipment includes 3-D printers; CNC routers; laser cutters/engravers; sewing, serger, and embroidery machines; and a recording studio. For safety reasons, any guest younger than 13 visiting the Idea Studio must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The variety of equipment gives people throughout the community a chance to discover new ways to create.
“I typically use the laser machine. That’s the one I started with, and that I like a lot,” said Mary Leicht, who has been using the space for years. “They walked me through every step … Now I’m getting into the sublimation and the 3D printing.”
Most Idea Studio equipment requires training before it can be used, but dedicated Idea Studio staff are available to help with any item in the space.
Both Leicht and Hellman pointed to those staff members as being a big part of what makes a visit to the Idea Studio special.
“Stephanie and Daniel are always so helpful, helping you get through your projects,” Leight said.
Hellman agreed: “The staff are welcoming to everybody who walks to the door. They’re so non-judgmental. No question is off limits with them … And they celebrate the things that you make — they’re actually proud of you.”
Training can occur during small group “badging” classes available on the Fond du Lac Public Library’s online calendar or by scheduling one-on-one session. Once badged, individuals can sign up to use equipment through the Idea Studio’s website.
“The reservation system works so well. It’s so easy to sign up for whatever you want,” Hellman said.
Opened in July 2016, the Idea Studio was designed to fill a niche in the community. Library leaders envisioned a future in which community members could come together to create.
“We made lists of all the different kinds of people who might create in a library space: artists, engineers, farmers, chefs, tinkerers, inventors, entrepreneurs, etc., and we tried to get as many of those people around the table as possible,” said Josh Cowles, the library’s IT manager and supervisor of the Idea Studio. “[That group] and other partners helped guide the Idea Studio to become the makerspace that it is today.”
The Idea Studio’s creation was funded through a combination of grants, private funds, and the library’s endowment. It continues to operate as a department of the Fond du Lac Public Library. Located on the library’s lower level, the Idea Studio is open Monday-Thursday from 3-8 p.m., Friday from 3-6 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
For community members unsure whether they should try it out, both Leight and Hellman offered clear advice.
“Come down and talk to [Idea Studio staff]. There’s no cost involved most of the time so you can try things out,” Leicht said.
“There’s something for everybody here,” Hellman added. “You can always find something that you would enjoy doing.”
Learn more about the space at fdlpl.org/idea-studio/
Community member Jeanne Hellman pulls an ornament off of the Glowforge laser cutter/engraver located in the Fond du Lac Public Library’s Idea Studio. This is one of many pieces of equipment available in the makerspace that may be used for free after training.
Staff members of the Fond du Lac Public Library’s Idea Studio show off a sample of the kinds of projects that community members may create in the library’s makerspace. Many pieces of equipment in the Idea Studio require training before use, but community members may book time on them for free via an online portal.
The Fond du Lac Public Library is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Idea Studio. On Saturday, July 18, drop into the makerspace from noon to 4 p.m. to explore, see demos, enjoy refreshments, and more.
Fond du Lac Public Library operates two locations: the Main Library at 32 Sheboygan St. in downtown Fond du Lac, and the Buechel Branch at 1132 E. Johnson St. near Festival Foods. The main library is open daily: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Chapter 52 Bookstore at 52 Sheboygan St. is open Monday through Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the Buechel Branch is open weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about any of these locations, visit fdlpl.org.
Date posted: July 6, 2026