Last week kicked off the opening of the new WLS Innovation Lab. In one of our first programs, library staff from around the county got an introduction to circuitry. With a plan that included all of the materials, instructions, and budget information to adapt the activity for adults, teens , or kids, we started by creating simple circuit “throwies.” An LED and a battery illustrated how electricity flows in a closed loop, patterned tape held the materials together, and a magnet added an element of fun – I’ll leave that part to your imagination! We settled down to sketch designs for bookmarks that lit up through paper circuits: LEDs, batteries, and conductive tape. Designing the circuits so that the LED lit up AND lit the appropriate part of the drawing that was layered on top was the challenge – it’s a good thing that head scratching and troubleshooting go together so well!! Almost everyone thought they were likely to try out this program at their libraries, whether as a single program or as part of a series. Look for more Innovation Lab program announcements soon – and share your ideas for experiential learning programs that have worked really well (or that you want to try), share it in the comments!

My sincerest thanks to Z of Crestwood for the great photos!