makerspaces and libraries

What is a maker space exactly?   And what do libraries have to do with them?

Education Week published a good overviewish article on makerspaces and schools in 2015. One of things noted is that there is no one simple definition of makerspaces.  They can be part of the school program or an afterschool program; they can be high tech or low tech, they may not even be called maker spaces.   The main theme linking various makerspaces together is innovation/creation. They are places where students (in schools) can exercise different brain muscles by making and creating things. These could be computer apps, 3d-printer items, articles of clothing sewn in sewing machines, or Lego structures.

Many school libraries have explored and set up maker spaces as a way to stimulate student learning activities in the library.  One that has been the subject of several media reports and academic case studies was implemented at New Milford High School in Bergen County, New Jersey.  Here is a short news video about that project.

Laura Fleming, media specialist/librarian for New Milford High School, used her experiences in creating this particular maker space to write a book and an article for Teacher Librarian (with Stephen and Debra Kurti) on how schools and libraries could create maker spaces. The authors summarized the process she used in seven steps:

1.  Observe students to find what they were interested in 
2.  Review school curriculum and goals to see what activities would complement them
3. Review national/global trends in technology and culture
4. Use these observations to formulate broad themes
5. procure a space and materials (Fleming started with old computers that could be taken apart, Legos, some hand tools, a 3d printer, Mackey Mackey kits)
6. promote student "ownership" of the makerspace -- encourage students to experiment on their own without obvious adult supervision. "Spacemakers acting as experts on a subject will generally limit the users of the space." write Kurti and Fleming. "To remove this limitation and give the students ownership of their learning, it is crucial to stand slightly to the side and allow the students to make their own mistakes and find their own solutions." (Kurti and Fleming, 2014). 
7. keep the makerspace fresh and evolving by adding new items and tools each semester.  Making the maker space requires "tinkering" just as much as an individual maker space project.

The key to successful Maker spaces is not necessarily a high budget or expensive gizmos and facilities, Kurti and Fleming conclude in the Teacher Librarian article. Rather, it is an educator with "a powerful vision and a willingness to try new things."

Works mentioned, linked, and cited in this post


Bell, J. (2015). School librarians push for more 'maker spaces' Education Week, 34(30), 10. Retrieved April 20, 2016, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/05/13/school-librarians-push-for-more-maker-spaces.html

[CBS New York]. (2014, February 27). New Jersey high school getting creative with makerspace.[Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZE8nCABAX4.

Fleming, L. (2015). Worlds of making: Best practices for establishing a makerspace for your school (Corwin Connected Educators Series). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Kurti, S.R., Kuri, D., & Fleming, L. (2014). Practical implementation of an educational makerspace. Teacher Librarian, 42(2), 20-24.  Accessed from Academic Search Premier, April 20, 2016.

Makerspaces and Teens, by: Hailey Jackson

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.

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.

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.

Makerspaces

Written by Verna Grant

What is a makerspace? It is a place that supports the maker movement, which in turn is about hands-on learning by building things. It is a place to create, collaborate, and learn (Kurti, Kurti, & Flemming, 2014). Makerspaces can be as simple as making crafts and offering design challenges with materials that are on hand or as ­elaborate as using technology to code, make movies, create robots, or try out 3-D printing. It all depends on the materials and funding available for each space.

Embed from Getty Images

Makerspaces can be an ideal setting to place in a school library. Both are informal learning environments and have open spaces for people to work individually or in groups. It is a central area to create a community for the whole school, while providing materials such as references, computers, and printers (Weisgrau, 2015).

The school library staff can play an integral part in makerspaces, besides just providing the space and materials. It can also be an opportunity to collaborate with teachers on activities and workshops that coincide with what the students are learning. Time could be provided for students to come in and work where staff would be available for assistance. Appropriate reference books could be added to the library, such as the books recommended by the School Library Journal. For elementary schools, staff can read stories aloud to students that encourage the same type of thinking and learning as makerspaces.

For example, reading the book Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.

The goal of makerspaces in the school library, is to teach students to learn by doing. By working individually and collaboratively, students have the opportunity to learn not just from the project but also from each other. It also give students the opportunity to teach others what they have learned in the process. It also encourages students to be engaged and use creative thinking to complete their projects.

This video with Sir Ken Robinson talks about creativity in education. His points coincide with the philosophy of makerspaces.

Makerspaces can be an ideal place for students to grow, and school libraries can be the central point that makes that happen.

Works Cited

Abrams Books. (2013, August 26). Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT9mqJPAM2k

Adobe. (2012, December 7). Why is creativity important in education? Sir Ken Robinson video series from Adobe Education. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywIhJ2goiGE

Kurti, R. S., Kurti, D. L., & Fleming, L. (2014). The philosophy of educational makerspacesL Part 1 of making an educational makerspace. Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals, 41(5), 8-11. Retrieved from http://www.teacherlibrarian.com/2014/06/18/educational-makerspaces/

Weisgrau, J. (2015, September 24). School libraries and makerspaces: Can they coexist? Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/school-libraries-makerspaces-coexist-josh-weisgrau

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.