Woonsocket Harris Public Library Celebrates "Grand Opening" of Studio Rhode Creation Lab




Pictured from Left to Right: L-R: Karen Mellor (Chief Librarian, OLIS), Leslie Page (Library Director, Harris Library), Toban Shadlyn (Studio Rhode Creation Lab Designer, RISD), Margaret McNulty (Assistant Director, Harris Library), and Bao Vang (Rhode Island Office of Innovation)



Woonsocket, RI --- On Thursday, September 28, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library officially opened the doors to its Studio Rhode Creation Lab. A “Grand Opening” event was held at the library from 7 PM to 9 PM, as the library showed off its new sound proof studio to dignitaries and members of the community.

“We are excited and proud to offer this space to our community,” said Leslie Page, Woonsocket Library Director. “We now have a place, available to all, where our residents can use the latest in 21st century technology to learn new skills, to create film, art, and music, and to simply come together to share knowledge and experience.”

In May, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Innovation, and the state Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), which asked libraries to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage Rhode Islanders with technology and training in the digital age. The winning entry was a proposal by the Woonsocket Harris Public Library to collect oral history stories from the residents of the city, to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan, for future planning, and economic development.

In winning the contest, the library was the recipient of 40 Apple iPads, a desktop computer, a laptop, resources to repurpose one of the study rooms into a studio, and a $40,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation.

Since July, librarians and project volunteers have made great use of the iPads, asking residents about their fondest memories of Woonsocket, things they like or dislike about the city, and ideas of how they might be able to change Woonsocket. The goal of the “My Woonsocket Life” project is to collect the stories of 200 residents. You can view some of the video on the Woonsocket Harris Public Library YouTube page here.

During her remarks of the grand opening of the Studio Rhode Creation Lab, Page took the time to thank the Governor’s office, OLIS, Apple Inc. and the Carnegie Corporation for making the “My Woonsocket Life” project and the renovated studio possible. She also expressed appreciation to the City of Woonsocket, several community partners, and all the volunteers who were responsible for assisting with the project.

“We have learned, while using iPads and computers for our ‘My Woonsocket Life’ project, that technology can preserve history, create shared experiences, and affect the future,” said Page. “We look forward to making our Studio Rhode Creation Lab a vibrant and integral part of our Woonsocket experience.” 

For more information, or if you are interested in participating in the "My Woonsocket Life" oral history project, you can contact Woonsocket Library Director Leslie Page at (401) 769-9044 and Assistant Library Director Margaret McNulty at (401) 767-4126. 

 


Picture of banner on the front lawn of the Woonsocket Harris Public Library for the "Grand Opening" of the Studio Rhode Creation Lab



The Woonsocket Harris Public Library Studio Rhode Creation Lab





Picture of the reception held during the "Grand Opening" of the Studio Rhode Creation Lab




Members of the Woonsocket community enjoying the "Grand Opening" event of the Studio Rhode Creation Lab







Another Look Inside the Studio Rhode Creation Lab
















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