Makerspaces

Makerspaces 

by Michelle Amundson

Makerspaces are becoming more and more common in libraries, both public and school libraries. But what is a Makerspace? A makerspace is a program that allows patrons to use a variety of tools, from as simple as a pencil and paper, to as complex as a 3D printer, to create. They serve not only to bring something fun and educational to a library space, but also to create connections within the community (Lakind).

Though this has many potential benefits for communities the libraries who implement Makerspaces service, it is not without its limitations. These spaces do have a cost for resources, especially ones that implement such resources as robots or 3D printers. Also, there is the cost of technological knowhow from the library staff. In Alexandria Lakind’s case study there is an account of a librarian who first attempted to acquire all of the skills himself, before making the shift to hiring those who already have the technical skill in each particular maker program he ran(2019). I think this is an amazing way to promote local business and encourage community connections even further.

I particularly liked Megan Blakemore’s use of Makerspaces to use literature as a means of helping with problem solving in Makerspaces building. She had kids read a book and designed a Makerspace project around it involving making a boat to catch tuna. The kids were encouraged to scope out the constraints of the design and plan their build before building it at a future date(2018). I think this is an excellent way to tie in books and reading along with problem solving, design, and building. It allows for many skills, even collaboration, to be worked all at one time, while also being a fun, creative activity for kids.

Works Cited

Blakemore, Megan. “Problem Scoping Design Thinking and Close Reading: Makerspaces in the School Library.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 46, no. 4, Jan. 2018, pp. 66–69. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1171732&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Lakind, Alexandra, et al. “Democratizing the Maker Movement: A Case Study of One Public Library System’s Makerspace Program.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, vol. 58, no. 4, Summer 2019, pp. 235–45. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=139336739&site=ehost-live&scope=site.