Get Creative at The Shop, Central Library’s Free Makerspace

The Shop, located on the second floor of Arlington’s Central Library at 1015 North Quincy Street, is one of the county’s most quietly extraordinary public resources. The free makerspace is stocked with 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter, woodworking tools, soldering irons, Raspberry Pi kits, Wacom tablets, Cameo cutters, sewing machines, and more — all available to library cardholders at no cost during open lab hours, with trained maker mentors on hand to help visitors learn the equipment and get projects off the ground.

The Shop is open to makers aged 9 and up (younger ages require someone 18 or older to accompany them) and the library regularly offers classes and workshops tied to the equipment, making it a genuine community learning environment rather than just a tool library. For anyone who has wanted to prototype a design, try 3D printing, learn laser cutting, or simply experiment with making something new, The Shop removes every barrier except the willingness to show up. Equipment in The Shop is supported in part by the Friends of the Arlington Public Library. Check the library’s website for Shop hours and upcoming classes.