Many of the ten who joined us to welcome Ryan Shepard of our Library’s FabLab to this ASK Salt Spring gathering were totally unfamiliar with his amazing work. They were glad that they joined us. We learned a lot about FabLabs – digital fabrication laboratories – (https://www.fablabs.io/). While they are in many libraries across Canada (not all) as well as other locations, like colleges, and all use 3-D printers, their offerings vary greatly. Our FabLab is unique in many ways. 

Among those special differences are:

• It is totally free, both the staff expertise to help you create as well as the materials used.
• It is fully-funded by the generosity of The Wilding Foundation with not a penny of tax dollars needed.
• Unlike many other Do It Yourself FabLabs, there is always an expert there to support you in our FabLab.
• It is open to help you create six days a week, the same hours as our Library: 10-5 Monday – Friday and 10-3 on Saturday.
• Anyone can book an appointment (https://calendly.com/libfablab/work-with-a-faclilitator-in-the-fablab) to come in and create.
• In addition to these appointments, our FabLab offers a number of unique programs: It offers STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics  (https://saltspring.bc.libraries.coop/programs/fablab-programming/), programs for children and young teens where they use problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork to design and construct innovative models in a playful environment.
• Our FabLab offers a program offering the design, creation and even free delivery of a wide range of adaptive devices designed to make physical challenges easier to address. 
• Our FabLab has a dedicated and committed staff, including Ryan, who simply love their job creating amazing things for us. 

After our Land Acknowledgement and an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves, we learned a bit about Ryan, our FabLab Administrator: Father of a six-year old son and spending much of his off-work time with him, Ryan simply loves his job. Who else can claim that they try to spend 100% of their time helping people? Also a passionate musician with hopes of bringing a recording studio program, Ryan finds the plethora of widely varied projects he supports endlessly fascinating. 

The growing love of FabLab activities is illustrated by statistics: Booked at between 30-40% capacity in 2022, it is now booked at almost 100% capacity. Users are evenly divided between youth and adults. In addition to its growing popularity, Ryan is pleased that the FabLab is maintaining a good balance between the passionate, oft-returning users and new users, averaging about 25 first time guests every month. 

While being at capacity is documented evidence of the great popularity of our FabLab, it also means that some must wait longer than Ryan likes for an appointment. While expansion is always on his mind, other efficiencies are also part of the ongoing conversation to address the growing demand for our FabLab. 

So, why would I want to make something in the FabLab? 

• A Broken Part? Do you have a well-loved device that is unusable due to a broken part that is either impossible or very expensive to replace? Rather than buying a totally new device, you should check out our FabLab. Many, many broken parts can be easily fixed, so do not despair if your microwave handle broke or that ruined vacuum cleaner part has made it unusable. Beware, though, currently, the plastics used in the FabLab are not certified food safe so replacing items that touch your food, like juicer parts, could pose a challenge. (Ryan has hopes that food safe plastics will someday be available in the FabLab.)
• Would You Like Tools to Help You Create? Digital printing has opened up an entirely new world for folks that make things. They now can print that perfect tool to make their creation just that much easier and better. We learned that there is a treasure-trove of designs (many of which are free) to create these tools on a multitude of websites. The exact the tool you need not available? Our FabLab experts love modifying (and crediting) these free designs to make exactly what you want. 
• Are you a Hobbyist or Budding Entrepreneur? Do you love Fidget Toys, actually proven to help many focus? How about replacing a beloved game part? Maybe even creating the prototype for a new game? Book an appointment and come explore the FabLab world of hobbyists! 
• Do You Struggle to Cope With Physical Challenges? Are you finding it harder and harder to open jars? How about opening those popular pill blister packs? Is typing on your computer or writing increasingly difficult? Our FabLab has thousands of free designs for an enormous variety of devices to make your life easier. If it is a device for which there are free designs, you need only contact Ryan (RShepard@Saltspringlibrary.com) to get it printed and even delivered to your Salt Spring location if needed. . .free! Maybe the devices available do not quite meet your needs. The FabLab team can modify these designs to create exactly what you need. . . free! 
• Want to Print Replica or Even Parts of Real Weapons? Forget it! Regulations are very clear, so do not even ask.  

But, do I need to know how to program to get something printed?Absolutely not!With the hundreds of thousands of free designs available, if the device you need is not there, our local team can modify it (giving credit to the original design) so that is it exactly what you need. 

No free designs available to even modify? No problem. . . . Ryan and his team love helping you describe what you need and making a model to create your device. All you need to do it to book an appointment and bring your ideas. 

With our FabLab at capacity, you may be surprised that Ryan asked us for help letting even more Salt Springers know about the almost magical capabilities of our FabLab. The suggestions flew, including:

• Coming to ASK Salt Springis a good start as the report is likely to be sent to 10,000 Exchange subscribers in the Thursday Newsletter,
• Reach out to Caregivers, our pharmacies, community groups supporting those with challenges to let them know about the free Adaptive Devices,
• Participate in the Repair Cafe (https://transitionsaltspring.com/upcoming-repair-cafe/) and the Mens’ Shed (https://saltspringmensshed.ca/), and
• What about an Open House? While the FabLab already hosts school class visits, Ryan thought that an open house welcoming everyone – and including cookies and coffee – would be a great activities. Look for one soon.  

Our time together flew by with many surprised that it was soon time to pack up and go. We expressed our pleasure that we had gotten to know Ryan, appreciating his infectious enthusiasm about wonders of the FabLab. Most of us committed to book an appointment so that we could actually experience this new way of creating cool things. We also promised to tell others about our fabulous FabLab, making folks’ lives better everyday. (Thank-you, Ryan for so loving that job where you get to help us 100% of the time!) 

Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring, currently also a Salt Spring Local Community Commissioner. It has been reviewed by Ryan.