New Philadelphia, Ohio - Tuscarawas County Public Library System officials are inviting area families to join them for an afternoon of STEAM-based learning. 

Public Relations Association Megan Kovalaske-Grimm says they will be hosting their 4th-annual MakerSpace Festival this Saturday from noon to 3pm at the Main Library in New Philadelphia. She says they will have a variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations for people of all ages, all based on the STEAM concepts of science, technology, engineering, math and the arts.

“We’ll have about 15 different stops. There will be stop-motion animation from Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Dee Grossman will be doing a clay-making demo, and people will be able to take some stuff away that station as well. The Canton Hacker and Maker Place will be here. Our Friends of the Library will be hosting a book sale in our garage. Pete’s Electric Bikes will be here from Akron,” she says. “There will be lots to do, lots to take away, and lots to learn.”

Kovalaske-Grimm says STEAM Centers will be there as well with their pop-up children’s museum, and library staff members will also be on hand teach people about coding and demonstrate the library’s MakerSpace offerings and new e-Health lab.

“Our MakerSpace has a button-maker, a 3D printer, a Cricut machine, and our e-Health lab is something new, so there’s a variety of things from an EKG monitor to a touch-free thermometer for kids, too,” she says.

Kovalaske-Grimm says this will be a great opportunity for people to learn about something new.

“From low-tech to high-tech, just technology, and just crafts in general, so it should be a really great event for any age group, and there will be things they will be able to take away with them as well. We’ll have some door prizes that they can win, too,” she says.

Kovalaske-Grimm says the entire event is free to attend, and no registration is not required. She says people can learn more by calling 330-364-4474 or visiting www.tusclibrary.org.

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV