Event:2018/05/11 Inaugural Media Lab Meeting

Inaugural Basement Media Lab WG Meeting - 11 May 2018, 7-9pm

attendees / rsvp

• jenny, Laura, Sierk, Anka, Robb, Phil

intros / availability / brief why you're here

• Jenny - generally interested in setting up media lad. Want to install button maker & have printer available other than omnioffice for more ppl to use.
• Robb - like media. hack hack. useful so long as we have capacity to maintain. gone in june
• anka: agree, would like to see a media lab, concerns about everything breaking down within the first month. available ~1 day/wk
• phil: concerns about access (cites problems with public terminals and non-members squatting/sleeping up there)
  • sierk: marc suggested we close the terminals area at 10 -> robb suggests swipe card
• sierk: makes sense to centralize these various resources. good if it had some stewards. often available
• laura: agree with aforementioned concerns. good to consolidate these commonly-used resources, for finability and social aspects. like to offer to neighbors and aligned orgs on a sliding scale bases. gone all of june and a bit in july. 1 day/wk signup system for people to come and use it
  • by appointment may be ideal

access brainstorm

• many of the machines can be locked with a password
• metal cabinet for supplies that should be lockable
• sierk: could build a mesh cage similar to sudomesh's for expendables and fancy equipment
  • easier since it's not a fire exit
• Access for classes that different people hae said they want to give
• Signage posted with access policy
• could have an evening a week of open hours & training (monthly?) for access
• ken: could also put stantion posts up (like they have at theaters)
• sierk: agree, make it clear it's not accessible to non-members. or community members without appointments
  • ken: that could be the first banner!
• anka: think a very clear barrier would be better - physical barrier
• robb: could put a metal plate over the USB ports and make them network-accessible only with a code
• sierk: just locking the machines down may be enough, or may turn out we need to physically block off the space
• ken: copyworld - charging by the amount of time you're on the machine, given an access card. still able to plug in your flash drive.
  • prefer everything modular and on wheels - could have wheeled cubicle walls which would also dampen sound. could wire them into place for security. wouldn't need building permits
• opennac (network access control) http://www.opennac.org/opennac/en.html

discussion of offset printer

• so many have said they were interested and/or could fix it
• laura: think we should take it apart and scrap it, give TIL their last chance to fix or move it and if they don't/can't, we should take it apart.
  • robb: agreed
• robb: may want to contact berkeley free press, may want it
  • lot of setup. not easy to use. but once you have it working it's awesome

abdc stuff

• first step is they need to move their storage out of there so we can do necessary upgrades of the space
• set a deadline?
  • May 19th, next meeting

visions / dreams

• Jenny: https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Basement#Media_Lab
  • Old grant proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WdH0lsyTSjb0ktSOAOqqp3KkRSuGjMOO0k3xAacobP4/edit#
• Fix/improve lighting
  • robb: replace existing broken lighting with led flourescent shaped
  • jenny: have some large paper lantern globes
• Paint walls (& ceiling, laura suggests painting as sky)
• Floor: Linoleum vs paint vs concrete polishing
  • anka: not super fun process, namely preparing the floor
  • robb: OWH has a floor buffer
  • we have several industrial fans around the building
• Robb: Commons: People who have events here often need flyers etc... could give stipends to individuals who fill an order etc
  • Ken: or maybe students in a class could take on small projects..
    • anka: printing services are expensive, there's always a need
      • sierk: lots of orgs that have newsletter printing needs... and if people want longterm access, they should also help with space cleanliness and maintenance
        • ken: could have internships and provide professional experience development
• anka: also useful to have a computer with photoshop/indesign etc
  • sierk: worried having computers would take up too much space - we should just use the terminals down here for classes, development etc. ask gcea
• sierk: for classes, rollable tables that flip up and can be easily stored out of the way

discussion etc

• phil: may be conflicts w/ music room? (middle basement room)
  • already next to liblens, not scheduled on calendar. could post a sign on music door to ask any neighbors about sound conflicts

resources

existing

• A large-format plotter
• A vinyl cutter
• A Tecre button-maker and supplies (owned by Jenny & Abe)
• Screenprinting equipment and press (owned by ABDC)
• Digital duplicator (owned by Sudo Room)
• Several Xerox copiers
• Various printers
• Offset press (broken/parts missing, owned by Timeless Infinite Light)
• Vending machine - move from CCL
• Various easels / paints / etc

offers

• ken: have a bunch of stuff i could contribute - lots of illustration materials, brushes etc and also classes
• anka: students moving out this weekend [hippie christmas!] so can find any small furniture we might need
  • have a bunch of banner material my housemates are trying to evict from the house
• marc developed a rad auto address-label maker that would be useful to incorporate (with a brother printer)
• ken: ccl may be getting a donation of a bunch of 3D printers they may be interested in
  • used to teach AutoCAD for professional development
    • • robb: and can film the class! omni media lab how tos

requests/needs

• usb to serial adapter for vinyl cutter
• Rolling tables that fold flat to stack against wall
• way of storing archival posters/prints/flyers and arts - eg donated drafting table with many thin drawers

governance / decision-making / access structure

• Working Group format? https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Working_Groups
• sierk: sliding scale donations, by appointment
• ken: work out the bugs among the collectives initially, then reach out to groups/orgs
• anka: don't know if we even should make offer to outside grousp
• sierk: abdc was going to have some stewards who would do training
• ken: train core working group to train others
• robb: are there going to be requirements t join?
  • jenny: if a working group, then open to anyone to join - requirements for use of media lab may be eg training, cleaning, maintenance, comms, holding open hours etc
    • steps are first to clean up the space, create a governance/access model and submit a proposal to omni,
• sierk: liblens' new membership policy a good model to look at re: training / access /

action items / next steps

• Check how much of equipment is lockable, password accessible
• Draft proposal for Omni: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ebaHkaSeCWHKKEjbg6u-VvDzifF-eFuBX_b_HmdDv0E/edit
  • To create the media lab
  • Make this group officially a working group to build and steward the space
  • Second proposal later once is built re how collectives, members, and eventually outside folks will access
  • Build out budget
• create signs re: access policy and post them in commonly-used areas
• contact berkeley free press re: offset printer - robb
• contact TIL re: press - jenny

NEXT MEETING

Next Saturday, May 19th from 5-7pm