Lego Robotics, 3-D printing and local films are just a fraction of the events scheduled Saturday at the Jacksonville Public Library downtown.
Library Spokesman Chris Boivin said this weekend the library will become Maker Con.
“It’s all about geek culture and maker culture,” he said, which he admits already have a lot of overlap.
The event includes a comic-con staple, a cosplay contest.
“People will actually have a minute to go up on stage and act like their favorite character and tell why they love their character,” Boivin said.
Later, a panel will describe how to make cosplay costumes. There’s also short film screenings by local filmmakers, an animatronics presentation by Sally Corporation and a ‘zine’ workshop, another name for a DIY, self-made magazine.
Lindsay Anderson, who makes her own underground Jacksonville Zine called ‘River City Raunch’ which anonymously chronicles people’s love lives, will be leading the workshop teaching others how to make their own mags.
“Zines are very free and easy,” Anderson said. “They can be about any subject. They can be any format, any style.”
More: CompleteList of Maker Con Events
For instance, Anderson’s zine is a stapled-together mix of pages filled with her own handwriting, typed text and found images. She said the library will be providing all the materials for others to experiment with their own zines at her workshop.
And she said she hopes Maker Con will also highlight some permanent elements of the library, like it’s large collection of hundreds of zines.
The public library also has an everyday Jax Makerspace where the public can use a 3-D printer, sewing machines or even take guitar lessons.
During Saturday's Maker Con, local makers will have their own projects on display near the library’s Makerspace area. The Makerspace itself is expected to be full of kids learning about robotics.
Maker Con on Oct. 14 runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the downtown public library.
In conjunction with Maker Con, the library will also be celebrating Indie Author Day with panels and workshops from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reporter Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at @lindskilbride
