Your Makerspace

The Capital Makers makerspace will be re-opening for appointments only starting Tuesday, April 18 , 2023. Please see staff for details!

Capital Makers is the Carson City Library’s makerspace. By offering makers this space with equipment, tools, and partnerships, the Library serves as an innovation center for our community and provides open access to information and various technologies to enhance professional, personal, and educational goals.

A Premier card is no longer required to access Capital Makers; however, participants must still read and sign the Capital Makers liability waiver and the Capital Makers Rules and Regulations forms. These documents only need to be signed once, unless revisions need to be made. Participants must also become certified on each piece of equipment they would like to use (see the certification tab for more information).

The Carson City Library was awarded a federal Library Services and Technology Act state grant through Nevada by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records. With this funding, the Library can offer the community a learning space that inspires creativity, promotes skill-building, and provides opportunities.

Jake Bells shows Bionics interns how to use the Carvey maching

How to use Capital Makers

You must receive certification on equipment before use. This is a two-step process outlined below.

STEP 1: Niche Academy
  • Go to Niche Academy and select the equipment training module you would like to complete.
  • Complete the online training module with a score of 80% or higher. Training courses can be retaken until a passing score is obtained.
  • Certain machines require a prerequisite. Please see the Equipment tab to learn more.
STEP 2: In-person Certification Completion Appointment
  • Contact us to book an in-person certification completion appointment.
  • Participants will have up to 45 minutes to complete the course and receive certification.
  • If the participant has not arrived 15 minutes after the scheduled reservation, the reservation will be canceled.
  • Reservations must be submitted 12 hours before the certification completion appointment. Same-day reservations cannot be made.
  • Participants have three attempts to complete the in-person certification on a single piece of equipment. If the participant does not pass after three attempts, they must wait one month before they can schedule a new in-person certification appointment for that piece of equipment.
  • For support, email creativelearning@carsoncitylibrary.org

Offer A Program

The Makerspace relies on community support to implement free, drop-in crafting workshops, hands-on projects, skill-sharing sessions, topic series seminars with a Makers-In Residence, as well as Maker Faire events to showcase programs and products. Please contact us if you are interested in providing programming on makerspace topics:

  • Electronics
  • Robotics
  • Textile design
  • Soldering
  • Sewing
  • Multimedia arts, digital production,and design
  • Digital fabrication (CAD, machining, laser cutting, and 3D printing)
  • Other crafting

Donate Materials or Money

Have materials you want to donate? Please let us know! All monetary donations are taken through the Friends of the Carson City Library. Please visit their website to find out more about donating!