Read more about this workshop in our reflection blogpost →
Learn more about creative learning and hone your facilitation skills in our PLIX Facilitator Training session 🧰🌀💁♀️
Dive into our PLIX activities—we’ll cover everything you need to know to offer these programs in your library ✂️🌱🚀
Get to know one another—the PLIX team, the Akron team, and the ~50 other public librarians in attendance 👋🥳🤝
Practice your new facilitation skills at a Halloween-themed Public Maker Night at the library on Wednesday 👻🎃🔮
About
The Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) team and our friends at the Akron-Summit County Public Library are hosting the first ever PLIX Satellite Workshop on October 29-30, 2019 at the Main Library in downtown Akron, Ohio.
The Public Library Innovation Exchange began collaborating with public libraries in 2017. Since then, we’ve grown into a community of librarians and MIT Media Lab researchers who strive to integrate the ideas of creative learning into their library programs and facilitation practice. This PLIX@Akron workshop represents the first ever in-person gathering of the PLIX community, bringing together around 50 librarians and community members from across the country.
As more librarians are asked to lead educational programs with emerging technologies, we think it’s important not just to get technology into the hands of patrons, but to cultivate an environment for patrons to experiment and create with technology. Join us for two days of hands-on, interactive sessions where we will delve into creative learning, MIT Media Lab research, and building your personal facilitation practice!
Agenda
Day 1: October 29th
Full day workshop (9:00am–5:30pm)
- Group Introduction
- Tour of the MIT Media Lab
- Introduction to Creative Learning
- PLIX Facilitation Training session
- Hands-on PLIX Activity breakout sessions Round 1
Group Dinner (6:30pm)
- Location TBD
Day 2: October 30th
Full day workshop (9:00am–5:00pm)
- Hands-on PLIX Activity breakout sessions Round 2
- Set-up and preparations for Public Maker Night
Group Dinner at the library (5:00pm)
Public Maker Night (5:30pm–7:30pm)
- Hosted by the PLIX team & you!
- Science fair style, Halloween-themed event for the Akron community using the PLIX activities we’ve been learning about during this workshop
Optional Evening Meetup🍻
Location
We’ll be gathering at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Library located at 60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326.
Lodging
We have reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Courtyard Akron Downtown by Marriott. The hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Library [map].
Workshop activities will begin early on Tuesday morning and will conclude late evening on Wednesday. Because of this, we suggest arriving on Monday October 28th and checking out on Thursday October 31st.
You can book a room in our block by using the group link below. The last day to book your room at the discounted rate is Tuesday October 8, 2019.
Getting to Akron
Akron-Canton airport (CAK) is located very close to the city, with rideshare, taxi, and bus transportation options to the city [map]. Alternatively, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is about 45 minutes away by car [map].
Join Us!
We welcome participation from PLIX community members, friends of PLIX, or any librarians or library staff who are excited about creative learning and STEAM education in libraries. Our only expectation is that attendees participate fully in all parts of this 2-day workshop.
Space is limited, and registration closes on October 4th. We can’t wait to meet you!
FAQ
The PLIX@Akron Workshop is free to attend, and all meals during the workshop will be provided by PLIX. We kindly ask that attendees participate fully in the 2-day workshop.
We have a limited number of travel scholarships available. We are also more than happy to work with you to advocate for funding from within your organization. Please email us at plix-workshop@media.mit.edu for more information!
We will be providing breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and dinner on both days of the workshop! Please kindly specify any dietary restrictions you may have in the registration form.
We’re open to participation from librarians or library staff who are interested in creative learning, STEAM education, and building their personal facilitation practice. If this sounds like you, then we’d love to have you join us!
Yes, definitely! If you’d like to keep in touch and hear about our upcoming events, please sign-up for the PLIX newsletter or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @heyplix.
This gathering is supported by:
We'd love to have you join us!
The Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) is a project of the MIT Media Lab Digital Learning & Collaboration Studio. Except where otherwise noted, all materials on this site are licensed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessibility.