Makerspace librarian loves learning process
One of Tom Schilb’s favorite things is helping students at the University of Houston-Victoria find creative ways to make unique projects and mentoring others in the process.
“The way the Makerspace is structured encourages people to linger and learn about what they’re working on,” Schilb said. “As I demonstrate the steps they need to follow or we work together to learn the best way to make something, we end up building relationships as well. It’s been a real joy to be part of that growth in others.”
Schilb is the Makerspace librarian in the UHV Library’s Jax Makerspace on the second floor of UHV University Commons, 3006 N. Ben Wilson St. The Makerspace is a workshop that offers a variety of services for UHV students, faculty, staff and community members for a small fee. The space includes several tools and machines that can be used for fabrication and other types of projects, including a 3D printer, a Glowforge laser engraver, a Cricut Maker, a button maker, a poster printer, sewing machines, audio-visual equipment and a variety of hand tools.
“Tom is always ready and willing to help out a patron, whether it’s coming up with a creative solution or technical help on a device we have in the Makerspace,” said Lori Bryan, the library’s head of public services.
Schilb joined the UHV Library staff in 2022 after working for a library in the Austin area. His husband has family in the area, and Schilb decided it was time to look for a new direction after he was passed over for a promotion at his previous position. When he saw the opening in Victoria, it seemed like a good opportunity, especially when he saw that some of the library’s staff are also involved in the local theater.
“I have a bachelor’s degree in theater, so I was excited to be part of a community that has a thriving theater organization,” he said. “The Victoria community is a good size for me because it allows me to become involved in ways that weren’t possible in Austin. I also have experience building props and making costumes for theater productions, which are skills I was able to bring into my work at the Makerspace.”
One of Schilb’s favorite parts of being the Makerspace librarian is the opportunity to be part of the learning process when helping students and other patrons create projects. While he often is able to help operate equipment he is familiar with, there have been times when it took some effort to figure out a solution.
“Once I had to figure out how to use a grommet maker to repair a UHV banner that was damaged right before an important event,” Schilb said. “I have some sewing skills, so we were able to find a way to make it work until the new banner could be ordered.”
Some of the best experiences have been when students came in with creative ideas that required lots of designing and trial-and-error, he said. For example, a few years ago, a group of students used the 3D printer to create the claws for a Doctor Octopus cosplay project.
“They started with four pool noodles and ran cables through them to connect with the claws to make the claws open and shut,” Schilb said. “Later, I saw an updated version of the costume posted online during a convention. It was much more advanced, but you could see the bones of that first attempt in the updated design. It was amazing to be part of that process.”
Although Schilb loves helping patrons learn how to bring their ideas to life, there are times when the Makerspace is not able to meet patrons’ needs, especially if it’s a large order, he said.
“The Makerspace is first and foremost an educational space, so it’s really built to teach people how to make their own projects or do one or two specific things,” he said. “We have a poster printer, but there’s a limit to what we can do. There have been times when I’ve had to refer patrons with larger orders to a real print shop.”
But even when dealing with limitations, Schilb enjoys finding ways to be creative and find solutions that can help students accomplish their goals.
“Limitations are just an opportunity to be creative and find what we can do instead of just focusing on what can’t be done,” he said. “This is a space for learning, and sometimes we make mistakes. I always tell students, ‘We never let perfect be the enemy of the good here.’ We might not get things right the first time, but we can usually find a way to make things work. And because of that, most people leave here happy.”
For more information about the UHV Makerspace, go to library.uhv.edu/makerspace.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.