Skip to main page content

A Case Study for Community Building in an Academic Library Context - The Evolution of the Fibre Arts Technology Club (FAT club) Before, During and After COVID: Building Community through Creativity and Healing

My Session Status

When:
3:45 PM, Friday 25 Apr 2025 (20 minutes)
Where:
Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre - RF-130 Salon Loyola Alumni
This presentation explores how the Fibre Arts Technology Club (FAT Club) at Concordia University promotes community engagement, creativity, and healing by integrating traditional fibre arts with technology. Since its founding in 2018, FAT Club has introduced tools like a motorized 3D-printed circular sock knitting machine (2019) and a mechanical punchcard knitting machine (2022), which pays homage to early computing. During COVID-19, FAT Club offered a necessary social connection and continues to promote inclusivity, skill-building, and sustainability. Key milestones include the Mending Matters course (2023) and the 2024 Christmas auction.

FAT Club highlights the role of academic libraries in lifelong learning, research, and social responsibility. By offering creative spaces and access to technology, libraries enhance student engagement, retention, and community development. This case study demonstrates how library-based initiatives encourage innovation, sustainability, and resilience in academic settings.

My Session Status

Send Feedback

Discussion

Add a comment
    No comments yet start the conversation!
Session detail
Allows attendees to send short textual feedback to the organizer for a session. This is only sent to the organizer and not the speakers.
When enabled, you can choose to display attendee lists for individual sessions. Only attendees who have chosen to share their profile will be listed.
Enable to display the attendee list on this session's detail page. This change applies only to this session.

Changes here will affect all session detail pages unless otherwise noted