A new revolution in keeping libraries current in today’s online society has been the evolution and implementation of Makerspaces, simply put, it is a place to make things. From the Cincinnati Public Library with a sewing studio, vinyl printer and laser cutter to the Brooklyn Public Library with an amateur recording studio and many other libraries implementing more simple programs in their Makerspaces like Digital Photography stations and Lego building blocks.
Makerspaces give members of the community access to tools they might not otherwise be able to own or even use like 3D printers or plotters and provide services to aspiring authors like the Espresso Book Machine which will print a copy of a book on-demand. One audience that seems to be thriving in and among Makerspaces are teens.
Makerspaces give members of the community access to tools they might not otherwise be able to own or even use like 3D printers or plotters and provide services to aspiring authors like the Espresso Book Machine which will print a copy of a book on-demand. One audience that seems to be thriving in and among Makerspaces are teens.
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| Teens use "Little Bits" at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, Ohio |
Karen Young, the Young Adult Services Coordinator at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, Ohio, began their journey of creating a Makerspace by hosting “Maker Mondays” during their teen Summer Reading Program. The Monday events were such a hit that adding a space to the library for teens to create became a no-brainer. Among the first tools and technologies they introduced were: A “Stickbot” stop-animation studio, digital photography software on dedicated work stations, a button-maker, and coding/robotics tools. She believes that adding small tech items has also worked to their advantage because items can be rotated in and out to keep them fresh.
Of course, bringing in all of this new technology has meant that there is a lot to learn about new products and how to promote these services in the library. In the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, staffing was approached by hiring additional help for the maker space as employees left for various reasons. This is a beneficial approach for a number of reasons because the library is able to select potential candidates who are familiar with the technologies available in the makerspace. Otherwise, it is important that all employees who will work in the space are qualified to use and teach others how to use the software, cameras, tools, etc. that are available.
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| A teen assembles and "codes" a robot at the Chattanoogs Public Library. |
Hopefully, this Makerspace will inspire similar spaces in libraries across the country. As Ms. Jensen states, “I love the excitement our maker space generates. In fact, our young patrons often teach us just as much as we are teaching them.” (School Library Journal, Feb 2016)
Works Cited:
JENSEN, KAREN. "SMALL TECH BIG IMPACT. (Cover Story)." School Library Journal 62.2 (2016): 22-25. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
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