Comment by BrianHenryIE | Hacker News Reader

Comment by BrianHenryIE | Hacker News Reader

I am/was a member of Hacker Lab for the past ~four years.

It's one of the best things about Sacramento. My only regret is that I didn't join sooner.

It's basically a library for makers with a plethora of equipment I would never justify purchasing for myself, or even have the space for. A co-working space. An event space. There were weeks I spent 50+ hours there.

Sacramento library does have a "library of things" and its own makerspace, both showing the library is on the same page, but Hacker Lab is/was a 24 hour space and was light years ahead of any other option in town. Makerspaces are a natural extension of libraries.

I learned lots, built lots, started many projects and made many friends.

I don't have many photos handy, but here's:

* Adding LEDs to my mudguard in the electronics room: https://imgur.com/a/VU7mupx

* Building a sidecar for my dog with the welder etc: https://imgur.com/a/BeM8MFg

[] Sacramento Public Library - Books are just the beginning

https://www.meetup.com/Sacramento-Public-Library-Makerspace/

https://www.saclibrary.org/Books-Media/Specialty-Checkouts/L...

I really like the library for makers concept. Since public libraries exist wouldn't the same concept work for a makerspace? I can't think of anything more interesting right now than new ways of socializing the means of production.

Not that I'm against such spaces being self funded and organized, but apparently it's not working well financially, so public funding could make it work and I can only think of net positive returns for the public.

Public libraries do have and can support spaces like this for some kinds of equipment. A laser cutter or a 3D printer are pretty easy to manage. It’s not hard to rapidly get into the liability area though. Also, you have to have someone around to who knows the equipment, and can answer questions and educate others. It’s an expensive proposition.

(Our local library just got one though :) )

For me the problem is that while I really like the idea of a library of fun tools, I would normally go weeks or months without getting in, so paying dues is tough. If they were low, I'd be fine with it, sure. The other model I have seen is to offer a 'month pass' but those are usually steep (which I guess might apply a little pressure on me to complete a project instead of half-doing it and leaving it in a pile...)

I agree, my only regret is not discovering them sooner. Id pay three times as much for them to stay open. Seriously...

So do some canvassing and make an offer. Maybe they need some new board members to encourage them to cut expenses.

I wish I had the capital to just pick up the lease... I seriously would. Do you have any advice on canvasing though?

Contact all the members and have a discussion. If they are shutting down, they expect to raise a certain amount of money from the assets. If you bid higher, they should sell to your group.

One of the members is probably a lawyer and can provide further advice.

Maybe form a non-profit organization.

I strongly second the suggestion to explore operating as a non-profit if you continue.

My local incarnation, BARN[0][1] is a financially sustainable nonprofit. However, we wouldn't be sustainable as a for-profit company, certainly not if we had investors chasing a return.

[0] bainbridgebarn.org

[1] Disclosure: I'm the executive director and deeply in love with this place. Happy to connect to share our experiences with anyone seriously considering a similar path.

Small world - I'm the (as of 4 days ago former) board chair of a makerspace in Salt Lake City[0]. Our former shop manager is from Port Townsend and couldn't say enough about you guys.

We are also a financially sustainable nonprofit. I'm convinced that's the only long term viable way to do a makerspace that targets hobbyists and small businesses/craftspeople.

[0] https://makesaltlake.org

That's awesome, small world indeed. Make Salt Lake looks great.

Yeah I share that conviction. This space is less about creating value and capturing a part of it than creating community (though done well the value created by a thriving community _is_ substantial). And for reasons I've only partially grokked, many people are willing to contribute to a community backed by a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation but not a regular corporation.

1. They get a substantial tax deduction- as much as half the donation, and the foundation pays no tax.

2. It makes them feel that they have done something good by donating to an educational foundation.

Note that not all tax-exempt nonprofits are 501(c)(3) educational foundations. You need that for the donation to be deductible for the donor.

Likewise, I'm currently on the management team at Hive76 in Philadelphia, and yeah - we couldn't operate as a for-profit company. We're a nonprofit, we're all volunteers, and while that means things move (sometimes a lot) more slowly, we can operate on razor-thin margins. We couldn't afford to pay one person's salary, but as a volunteer org we can keep going so long as we can afford rent/utilities/tools/consumables.

I have nothing to add to this comment other than to say your dog is very cute

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