Library

Humboldt Scholars Lab is dedicated to foster collaboration with the campus community in advanced studies, digital humanities, publishing, and scholarship projects that require consultation, planning, and technology. Conversations about research interests and collaborations on digital humanities or science projects, geospatial information projects, digital scholarship, and research data services are developed in the Scholars Lab and shared with the research community. The Scholars Lab houses 3D printers, a 3D projection system and a variety of technology to facilitate meaningful use of this makerspace.

The Humboldt Scholars Lab alongside Special Collections, Digital Media Lab, and The Press at Humboldt is ideal because of the importance of primary research. This reimagined section of the Library focuses on the connections between teaching, learning, and research. The Library encourages students to utilize the primary sources, rare books, and manuscripts found in our Special Collections. To support this work, the Humboldt Scholars Lab offers consultation and workshops from highly-trained faculty, staff, and students to support the research and scholarship of Cal Poly Humboldt students, faculty, staff.

The Cal Poly Humboldt Library Scholars Lab provides exciting paid student internships that offer high-impact learning opportunities to curate online exhibits. One such digital humanities project is The Humboldt Redwoods Project. This online exhibition was created by Cal Poly Humboldt Library Scholar Interns in partnership with the Cal Poly Humboldt Library Special Collections and the Cal Poly Humboldt Museum & Gallery Practices Certification Program to celebrate our community's relationship with the redwoods.

What is next? Creating a Data & GIS Visualization Lab

We are looking at new digital technologies to provide an immersive experience with data visualization. A Data & GIS Visualization Lab would serve as a central showcase for innovation and research, and would provide students with much needed experiences with data analysis, visualization, and presentation to support the data driven decisions on the road ahead.

Information visualization is the graphical representation of technical data. Developing skills such as data analysis, design thinking, and the ability to share information that can be readily understood by audiences are crucial for today’s learners.  Dual-monitors, high-end graphic computer lab area, and a map or poster printer are tools that serve as both a GIS lab and a data visualization lab. Collaboration space, consultation space, and computer lab would be located near small collection of maps, atlases, and map digitizer and plotter.

Goal: $100,000

Enhancing the Makerspace

Digitizing, printing, or modeling projects in 3D are fast becoming a part of the academy, and are important skills and tools for researchers and scholars. The Library Makerspace is a place where the campus community can brainstorm, prototype and iteratively design and create physical and digital projects with opportunities to get feedback from other makers in the community.

Spaces that encourage hands-on, participatory learning and experimentation, self-directed learning, or working with hardware and software, taps into the creativity and innovation of a campus community. Hosting workshops that share projects and expertise, and teach crucial skills and techniques, are often community based practices in Makerspaces. Immersive makerspaces often feature diverse assortment of materials, supplies, and tools. The function of a Makerspace depends on the design, such as computer programming, fabrication lab (fab lab), or cooperative working space. Typically found in these spaces are a 3D printer, electronics (raspberry, LittleBits circuit, etc.), sewing machines, LEGOS, general tools, etc.

Workshops and event programming would develop with campus community interest, similar to the UnConference and L4HSU programs.

Goal: $100,000