Makerspaces - by Lauren Lane

With libraries having to squeeze as much out of tight budgets, makerspaces have been an innovative way to attract students and patrons to their school or public libraries.  A makerspace creates an atmosphere of learning and collaboration.  A student or patron is there to create something for their own personal needs (Kurti).  Often times a librarian starts the teaching process to a student or patron and then before you know it the student or patron becomes the teacher for other students or patrons making the maker space a “great social equalizer,” according to Judy Houser a librarian at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Florida (Kurti). 

This creative space can be used for a myriad of reasons.  There’s makerspaces related to computer programming, sewing, 3D printing, paper craft, Legos, etc.  You think it…there is probably a makerspace tutorial you can find online to try to implement in your library.  There are so much cool things out there that are cost efficient that could be added to libraries, public and school in way of a maker space.  Raspberry Pi, for example, inspires new computer programmers and inventors.   For a cost of $25-$35, you have a computer the size of a credit card which allows you to download an operating system and sends you on a way to discovery.  Here’s a brief video of what a Raspberry Pi is:

The possibilities are endless, there is  so much that you can do.  Lights can turn on, you can create robots, your imagination is your director.   Makey Makey , another cool concept, that allows students or patrons to have fun while learning how a computer works.  Tools like Raspberry Pi and Makey Makey really helps create a learning and teaching community.

Creating and implementing a makerspace requires research, commitment and learning.   What do librarians need to do when considering setting up his or her makerspace?  Do you want something on the technology side?  Something on the crafty side?  Both?  A combination?  Different makerspaces?  What do you want?  A survey of librarians who had implemented their own makerspaces gave a lot of insight into the above considerations.  One respondent reported that he had a couple of things in his makerspaces so if one thing didn’t grab the attention of one student maybe something else would.  He had a technology based space and then a craft space (Moorefield-Lang). 

Perhaps the biggest issue when trying to implement a makerspace  is training for library staff.  The training is spare at best and takes commitment from the librarian, a willingness to fail, a fearless attitude to play with new technology (Moorefield-Lang).  It takes a lot of research and you will be the one training yourself through the use of various tools many of which will be new to you.  A further exploration of responses to Heather Moorefield-Lang’s survey, respondents listed the following are resources that are invaluable to use when trying your own makerspace:  going to peers in the field, using online sources such as YouTube to get ideas and tutorials, relying on student assistants, relying on friends, using volunteers and by looking and playing with what they had (Moorefield-Lang).  These resources are important when trying to make your own makerspace. 

The positive things from having a makerspace is amazing but it will take time, commitment and a long and odd road to find what works.  But with commitment, librarians can reach out to patrons and students like never before with the utilization of makerspaces.

So there are some really exciting and cool things out there!  Here’s some links that I think would get the ball rolling on creating your own makerspaces in your library:

Pinterest board: This link will take you to numerous pins about makerspaces that are already being used in libraries.  Some great ideas!

Raspberry Pi: For patrons and students interested in programming, this low cost computer system really will get students in the driver’s seat when learning about computers. 

Here’s short video about setting up a Raspberry Pi :

Makey Makey:

Have fun while learning!  This is a kit that offers the ability to have fun while learning the elementary elements of what makes a computer work.   Here are a couple of videos about Makey Makey:

Crafting:

The Pinterest board shows a lot of crafts and sewing projects you can make in a makerspace.  This was shown to me on Facebook and I think it’s a simple, cheap and fun project that students and patrons can make with little instruction! Make Your Own Felt Cat

What about you?  What are you excited about when it comes to makerspaces?  What have you seen?

Works Cited

Belcher, Gale. Programming Librarian: Mini-Maker: Sew a Felt Cat. (2016). Web. 13 Apr.

     2016.

Kurti, Steve. “Makerspace Blast Off!.” Teacher Librarian 42.3 (2015): 54-55. Academic

     Search Premier. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

"Makey Makey: An Invention Kit for Everyone." Jay Silver. YouTube. Web. 13. Apr. 2016.

Moorefield-Lang, Heather. "Change In The Making: Makerspaces And The Ever-Changing
     Landscape Of Libraries." Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning
     59.3 (2015): 107-112. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

"New Invention: Makey Makey GO: Invent Everywhere, Invent Now!" Future Ideas

     &Technology. YouTube. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

"Setting up a Raspberry Pi." ExplainingComputers. YouTube. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

"What is a Raspberry Pi?" Raspberry Pi. YouTube. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.