Westfield Memorial Library Announces its First Ever Maker in Residence

Westfield Memorial Library has announced the appointment of engineering student Joy Luo as the library's first Maker in Residence. Joy is a Westfield native who recently completed a dual degree undergraduate program, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Physics from Oberlin College, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Robotics from Washington University in St. Louis. Luo will return to Washington University this fall to pursue a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering.

During her summer residency, Joy will have dedicated access to the library's Makerspace and its tools and equipment, where she will develop and exhibit original work. The focus of her summer residency will be 3D design and printing, a type of additive manufacturing where a three-dimensional object is created from a digital file by building one layer at a time.

Library Director Allen McGinley stated: "The goal of our new maker residency is to identify people in the community with deep technical expertise who have an eagerness to share their knowledge and ongoing work with the public. Joy's commitment to building things that matter is what the Westfield Makerspace is all about."

Genevieve Girvan, Emerging Technologies Librarian and Makerspace Coordinator, added: "Hands-on learning, curiosity, and problem-solving should be accessible to everyone in our community. I encourage everyone to come talk with Joy, learn about her process, and walk away inspired to make something of their own."

Joy will share her work with residents during open studio hours on Monday, August 3 and Wednesday, August 5 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She will also present her project in a formal meet and greet with Q&A on Tuesday, August 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Maker in Residence program is part of the library's ongoing commitment to providing hands-on, project-based learning opportunities. For more information, residents can sign up for the library's weekly email newsletter at wmlnj.org or call 908-789-4090.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.