Jo Shepherd

Communications 1
December 4, 2013

Making Awesome Connections Through Makerspaces

Libraries today are seeing their patrons technological skills expand rapidly. Along
with the growing pains of trying to accommodate busy, web-savvy people, libraries
are making other shifts in how they function as community spaces. Beyond offering
culture for patrons to consume, libraries are answering a growing demand to offer
their patrons a place to actively create culture. Makerspaces are a huge part of this
expansion; from traditional crafts workshops to the latest 3-D printer, these for-thepeople, by-the-people spaces are all about tinkering, sharing skills, making
discoveries and furthering a love of learning. Incorporating makerspaces in libraries
is more than just a hot trend. Makerspaces make libraries more resilient by giving
people space to innovate and share skills, and they are excellent for engaging
students in school libraries.
Beside the traditional collections and programming, many librarians see that
patrons desire a space to work with physical tools, where they can alter raw
materials, share skills, and produce something new. Lauren Britton, library
technician and co-creator of the Fayetteville Free Public Librarys Fabulous
Laboratory, says,
Transliteracy is the ability to read, write, and interact across
a range of platforms and tools. Makerspaces give us
(librarians) a way to promote new forms of literacy, to help
our patrons communicate across a range of platforms that
are necessary to success (A Fabulous Laboratory Britton
33).
Instead of simply offering information and searching tools, libraries can provide an
area for such learning to actively take place. There are as many types of
makerspaces, geared to the unique demands of their communities, as there are
libraries. They can be hosted in public, school, academic or special libraries they
can be portable or permanent. Although makerspaces are often linked to the
explosion in 3-D printing technology, they also encompass traditional mechanics
and woodworking, handicrafts, digital equipment and scientific experiments (Wong
34).
Wait makerspaces must be a huge challenge to set up in terms of space,
staff time, training, and equipment budgets! Betha Gutsche of WebJunction
acknowledges that the Chicken Little response is common as new technologies
come to the fore. Some libraries integrate community makers with the appropriate
knowledge into their programming; others devote resources to let staff build their
expertise in using new equipment, according to where their interests lie (Gutsche
29). It is useful to look at different real-life examples; two Illinois libraries have
taken very different approaches to serve their communities with makerspaces.
While the Arlington Heights Memorial Librarys digital media lab (which includes
photography software, a sound recording booth, film production and postproduction rooms and equipment) is staff-intensive, the Oak Park Public Librarys
makerspace, The Idea Box, is simply a modest gallery space with low-or-no budget,
public-participatory exhibits (Stoll 6,7).

Jo Shepherd
Communications 1
December 4, 2013

Another potential problem with makerspaces, or any new technology

considered trendy, is that some trends simply dont last, and activities or tools end
up being discarded. Keeping abreast of the hype cycle, refraining from instantly
adopting every new trend, and putting patrons needs first will lead to the vibrant
community space that is right for a particular library (Farkas 23). Besides, we
(librarians) cant allow our lack of desire, interest, or understanding to create a
barrier to access (The Makings of Britton 22). The point of makerspaces is to
engage people. Great libraries want patrons share their passion for experimentation
in the library, because it enriches the whole institution.
Key venues for implementing makerspace concepts are schools. Because
makerspaces are all about user participation, they are of special value in schools,
where they can harbor projects that do not easily fit into traditional curricula and
classrooms (Learning by Making Gustafson 4). There is no general proscription for
a successful student-focused makerspace:
School librarians might start by teaching a mini-lesson
on HTML using Mozilla Thimble, circulating an Arduino or
two in the library collection, organizing a podcasting group,
or creating a student advisory board to offer input on what
they want to learnthere is not one single right way to
create a Makerspace, nor is there one high-tech (or highcost) tool that defines it (Meeting Needs Gustafson 36).
Although makerspaces may not tidily integrate into actual classrooms, educators
and librarians love them for providing many hands-on, transferable, educational
tools. This is especially true since most projects naturally incorporate one or more
of the STEAM subjects (science, technology, arts and mathematics): because
activities in makerspaces focus on technical applicationsSTEAM learning is made
less abstract and easier to understand (Houston 26). Makerspaces can give
students with specialized learning needs an option for mastering theoretical skills,
which can benefit the their overall experience at school.
It isnt just adults who are more connected, e-literate, and distracted than
ever; getting todays students to pay attention to traditional lessons is no easy task.
School makerspaces can boost participation, analytical and critical thinking skills,
peer-to-peer training, and a love of learning in the student body (Wong 35). Since
school libraries already thrive at the intersection of students formal and informal
learning (Learning by Making Gustafson 4), makerspaces are a natural extension
of the school library. They foster peer interactions as well as the interests of a
collective teamby playing, interacting, and innovating through challenges as they
complete projects (Wong 35). The positive side effects go beyond the academic, as
makerspaces are so entertaining and socially enriching.
It is clear that makerspaces embody diversity, ranging from small, simple and
inexpensive to technically complicated and costly. Their inherent adaptability
should be attractive to library staff considering how to re-package and re-brand
themselves while serving 21st century patrons, often with limited resources.
Makerspaces are gaining real traction and proving more than just another passing
fad; they draw new patrons in and enhance their relationship to the library, thereby
enlivening the space and benefiting its staff. They are also extremely worthwhile
2

Jo Shepherd
Communications 1
December 4, 2013

additions to school libraries, where they can serve as catalysts for learning and
growth. Theres no one size fits all makerspace: if you have a library staff that likes
to think creatively, you can make the space for a makerspace!
(word count 997)

Jo Shepherd
Communications 1
December 4, 2013

Works Cited
Britton, Lauren. A Fabulous Laboratory. Public Libraries 52:4 (Jun./Aug. 2012):3033. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web.
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Britton, Lauren. The Makings of Maker Spaces. Library Journal 136:16 (2012): 2023. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web.
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Farkas, Meredith. In Practice. Spare Me the Hype Cycle. American Libraries 44:5
(May 2013): 23-23. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with
Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Gustafson, Ellen. Learning by Making: Why the Maker Movement Matters for School
Libraries. School Librarians Workshop 33:6 (Jun./Jul. 2013): 3-4. Library,
Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 25 Nov.
2013.
Gustafson, Ellen. Meeting Needs: Makerspaces and School Libraries. School Library
Monthly 29:8 (May/Jun. 2013): 35-36. Library, Information Science &
Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Gutsche, Betha. Makerspaces in Libraries: Patrons Delight, Staffs Dread? Alki 29:1
(Mar. 2013): 28-30. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with
Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Houston, Cynthia. Makerspaces @ Your School Library: Consider the Possibilities!
Kentucky Libraries 77:3 (2013): 26-28. Library, Information Science &
Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Stoll, Christina. Makerspaces: Surveying the Scene in Illinois. ILA Reporter 31:2
(Apr. 2013): 4-9. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with
Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Wong, Tracey. Makerspaces Take Libraries by Storm. Library Media Connection
31:6 (May/Jun. 2013): 34-35. Library, Information Science & Technology
Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.