On Earth Overshoot Day (July 24), the new initiative make-a-thek officially launches — reimagining public libraries as spaces for circular fashion, repair, and sustainable craft. These creative, open-source makerspaces will empower local communities with access to tools, workshops, and knowledge around upcycling, traditional crafts, and circular design.
What is make-a-thek?
make-a-thek is a project that creates modular, easily replicable makerspaces in public libraries, with a focus on fashion and craft products. It promotes open access to circular design and making through community co-creation, offering practical toolkits and free educational resources and machinery for libraries.
Piloted in at least 12 libraries (9 in Europe, 3 internationally), the project aims to combine traditional heritage craft knowledge with modern digital tools and machinery to share and trial circular consumption and economy concepts with interested local communities.
Pilot Libraries Announced
Over the coming months, new “make-a-theks” will be established at the following public libraries:
- Antwerpen (Belgium), Permeke
- Barcelona (Spain), Biblioteca Camp de l’Arpa-Caterina Albert
- Berlin (Germany), VÖBB – Berlin Library Network
- Budapest (Hungary), Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library, Budapest
- Helsinki (Finland), Central Library Oodi, Helsinki City Library
- Kranj (Slovenia), Kranj City Library
- Kyiv (Ukraine), Hryhorii Skovoroda Central District Library
- Milan (Italy), Milan city library network
- Opole (Poland), Municipal Public Library in Opole
- Reykjavík (Iceland), Reykjavik City Library
- Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), Municipal Establishment “City Public Library System of Zaporizhzhia”
In addition to these pilot sites, a mobile makerspace bus and international partners outside Europe are planned.
Rooted in New European Bauhaus values:
- Inclusivity – opening access to creative technologies and inviting communities to shape the green transition.
- Sustainability – encouraging hands-on participation in a circular society.
- Enrichment – supporting personal and shared creativity through fashion and crafts.
All concepts are open source and designed to scale — helping libraries everywhere support local, sustainable change. The first make-a-theks will open in 2026.
The 9 Partner organizations behind make-a-thek:
Zentrum für Soziale Innovation, Global Innovation Gathering, Fashion Revolution Germany, OpenDot, Public Libraries 2030, Ukrainian Maker Association, European Crafts Alliance, Fab City Foundation, Fab Lab Barcelona at IAAC.
make-a-thek is funded by the European Union.