BRUNSWICK

Collaboration is loosely defined as people working together toward a common goal.

Curtis Memorial Library has a goal of engaging the greater Brunswick community and, to that end, has repurposed space on its first floor into the Collaboratory. The Collaboratory is described on the library’s website as “part interactive miniclassroom, part think tank, part play space, part studio, part museum, part gallery and ALL PARTS LIBRARY — the Collaboratory is a dynamic participatory learning experience for people of all ages and interests in our community.”

The space will be the home of rotating exhibits that will combine numerous elements around a common theme, changing on a monthly basis. The first exhibit, titled “Mavericks & Misfits,” opened this month.

“It’s a space for the community,” said Joyce Schmitt, the library’s development associate. “Libraries are always wanting to educate and invite the community in and this is one new way we can do it. This space is for them and we hope they come in to check it out every month.

“We want this to be a vibrant, topical, ever-changing space to give folks something a little different when they come into the library,” she added. “Some folks are here several times a week, so it’s nice for them to have something a little more interactive.”

Shifting sections of the library helped pave the way for the new use for the space that had served as Curtis Memorial Library’s technology room, according to Schmitt. Previously home to the public access computers, she said, the library had changed the way the non-fiction books were shelved on the second floor, opening up space for the computers. That left an open room in the middle of the library’s first floor.

But, what should be done with it remained a question.

“We had several librarians who attended a national conference and heard about a Chicago library’s Idea Box, which is something similar, with interactive rotating exhibits,” said Schmitt. “They were things that drew people in by subject matter, of interest to all levels and ages.

“In brainstorming, we thought it was something we could pull off here,” she added. “The staff is excited about it and we have a yearlong schedule of programming planned.”

Offering multiple mediums creates the opportunity for the space to reach more people — and a more impactful learning environment.

“We really wanted to make sure it had interactive components, a place where people could watch things, participants,” said Schmitt. “People can be active participants or drive-by observers, depending on their time schedule.

“I think we achieved that goal. I see people in there sitting, watching the TED Talk of the day, or at the two designated that take you right to the archive of TED Talks,” she added. “We have the pictures of mavericks and misfits, and we’re soliciting folks to add their own maverick or misfit. We have pulled in apsects of our collection, featured biographies from the adult and children’s collections, and we try to highlight books based on the topic of the talk.”

Schmitt said that so far “the community has been very responsive to it.”

She noted that about 40 people came out to hear a talk given by Brunswick’s Maina Handmaker, director of the Brunswick Food Shed project, on Nov. 6. She not only gave an update about the project, but also discussed her experience giving a talk at the TEDxDirigo event last year.

On Tuesday, Jonathan Freedner was checking out the Collaboratory with his 10-year-old daughter, Ellie Wishman Freedner. He said he was drawn in by the black sheep helping pronounce the “Mavericks and Misfits” theme. Freedner said the exhibit showcasing the value of individuality was important for people to see, especially since it offered a look at notable people who broke the mold.

“In this country, there is such diversity of experience and background, and too often lately, we don’t recognize that,” he said. “This highlights people who had the impulse to break new ground, whether it be through technology, art, music, sport, any avenue of human endeavor and creativity. We have this great wealth of abilities that are not being tapped.

“There are a lot of corporate forces working to keep people in boxes, to keep them under control,” Freedner added. “It’s valuable for individuals to notice there is value in being different — and there is value in noticing those differences.”

As for the addition of the Collaboratory, he thinks the library has a good idea on its hands.

“I think it’s a very promising concept,” Freedner said, noting the Collaboratory is a better use for the space than for public computer stations. “It really lends itself to the display by having interesting exhibits.

“Before, you might walk around the outside, but with this, more people will walk through,” he added. “By shifting the purpose, the décor and the content, more people will use it.”

Freedner didn’t just look over the exhibit, but left a Post-It note next to the Jim Henson photo — as encouraged by that piece of the space that features photos of “Mavericks and Misfits” — with the quote, “It’s not easy being green,” made famous by Henson creation Kermit the Frog.

Schmitt said the Collaboratory has also engaged staff, including herself.

“I’m not usually involved in this type of programming,” she said.

The multimedia aspect will carry through all of the Collaboratory’s themes for the year. Next up: An exhibit based around the theme of play.

“There will be pieces of equipment to play on in the Collaboratory,” Schmitt said. “There will be information about the history of play, and how play is seen and viewed by different cultures. There will be hands-on things and there will always be some sort of video component as well.”

Some months, Schmitt is expecting to feature national touring exhibits in the Collaboratory.

“They are exhibits that go through museums and libraries around the country,” she said. “Some of that is funding based. We’ll probably try to get some underwriting for some, some are free, some you just have to pay shipping costs.

“We’re hoping to bring in one or two things like that a year,” she added. “Things that have more of a national following.”

Donations are possible, whether it be monetary or materials.

“People can designate their donations for anything they like,” Schmitt said. “If someone is interested in donating materials for future exhibits, we have material needs. We’d be open to having a discussion.”

For more information about the Collaboratory, visit Curtis Memorial Library, visit www.curtislibrary.com/2014/11/what-isthe curtis-collaboratory.

rmontana@timesrecord.com

THE MULTIMEDIA ASPECT will carry through all of the Collaboratory’s themes for the year. Next up: An exhibit based around the theme of play.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Collaboratory, visit Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, visit www.curtislibrary.com/2014/11/what-is-the-curtis-collaboratory.