Collaboratory

About

The Collaboratory is the library's makerspace, located on the 2nd floor.

Appointments are required on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Thursdays-Saturdays are drop-in; no appointment required.

Tuesday: 10am-8pm, by appointment only
Wednesday: 10am-8pm, by appointment only
Thursday: 10am-8pm, drop in
Friday: 10am-5pm, drop in
Saturday: 10am-4pm, drop in

A library card is not required on drop-in days, except to purchase our materials.

Questions about the Collaboratory's ham radio? Read all about it here. 

APPOINTMENTS

Anyone with a library card registered with us, in good standing, may make a Collaboratory, Digitization, or Digital Media Lab appointment. The cardholder must be present during the appointment.

Appointments are required on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for the Collaboratory, Digitization Room, and Digital Media Lab. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are drop-in days. 

Appointments begin and end on time. If you do not show within 30 minutes of your scheduled time and do not notify us that you will be late, your appointment will be canceled and made available to others. We do not accept appointment requests via voicemail or email.

3D PRINTING

We accept 3D print requests from Northbrook Library card holders and from non-Northbrook card holders who have a valid library card registered in our library system. Visit our 3D printing page for more details.

Collaboratory Appointments

Collaboratory appointments are 90 minutes and are required on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Up to 3 persons may attend, limited to use of 2 pieces of equipment total. Limit one appointment per person, per week. Anyone with a library card registered with us, in good standing, can purchase materials from us. Use of your own materials is welcome, but must be approved by staff; bring the material's SDS sheet with you.

Schedule a Collaboratory appointment

Available Equipment

  • Laser cutter
  • Cricut Maker
  • Embroidery machine
  • Sewing machine (requires previous experience)​

Digitization Appointments

Digitization appointments are 3 hours. Limit 2 persons per appointment.

Schedule a Digitization appointment

Media Formats

  • 8mm, Super 8 film & 16mm film
  • Cassette tapes
  • MiniDV cassette
  • Photographs & slides
  • VHS & VHS-C tapes
  • Vinyl records

Digital Media Lab Appointments

DML appointments are 3 hours. Limit 3 persons per appointment.

Schedule a Digital Media Lab appointment

Available Equipment