Skip to main content

Makerspaces in Libraries --- by Patty Hiebert

 

Over the past decade, libraries have felt growing pains as they work to stay relevant to the communities they serve. “Makerspaces,” as an extension of library programming like STEAM, has more recently come to the forefront of the conversation. Some argue that library “makerspaces” programs are yet another stepping stone on the continuum of serving the public by providing current and relevant programs and services. Others maintain that makerspaces programs are an inefficient expenditure and are a burden libraries cannot afford to bear. While the concept of makerspaces is exciting on many levels, we have to ask ourselves whether the benefits outweigh the costs. 

In this day and age of fast technology and virtual everything, libraries are thinking of new ways to draw the community together and offer programs that are practical as well as engaging. Johnathan Hunley describes makerspaces in his article “Making Space for Fun Lessons,” published in The Washington Post (2017). Hunley reports that makerspaces began their uptick in schools around 2010 and were, at least in part, inspired by maker movement mogul “Dale Dougherty.” Through libraries, makerspaces were initially associated with technological literacy, but in recent years, they include any number of hands-on, practical learning programs that best serve the community’s needs and interests. Take a look at the impact Rockwood Library is having on its community through its makerspaces programs in this short video: 

“Rockwood Library Makerspace” (YouTube). 

The San Diego Public Library is one of many public libraries that offers a designated space sourced with tools to write computer code and create objects using a 3-D printer. In this case, the library provides access to technology and learning resources not readily available to most community members. Creating a shared space or program brings people with common interests together, which creates a sense of community.

Other benefits to makerspaces hands-on learning programs are that they promote critical thinking and inquiry by way of accessing resources to solve problems and answer questions. Makerspaces are also thought to be “beneficial to English-language learners and others in special-ed programs” (Hunley). Makerspaces coincide with STEAM programs (an offshoot of STEM – “A” stands for ARTS). The idea of both is to design programs with a practical hands-on learning component that responds to a need or interest within a library’s community. Traditionally, library resources engage visual or auditory learning: makerspaces add kinesthetic learning which activates a different part of the brain.

So why are some libraries hesitant to embrace makerspaces programs? Tara Ones addresses this question in her article “Making Makerspaces More Functional and Sustainable,” published in Teacher Librarian. Ones explains what might seem to be the obvious: makerspaces can be costly, time intensive, and unsustainable (44-45). In essence, libraries don’t want to commit their limited funds, space, and human resources to programs that may be no more than a fad or better provided by a different organization.

That said, it is worth noting that the “Public Library Association” webpage (a division of the ALA) dedicates a great deal of space to exploring how to design, fund, and sustain makerspaces. The Public Library Association’s “Makerspace” webpage offers a wealth of information ranging from planning, designing, and sustaining makerspaces; legal considerations; STEAM education; and makerspaces models. The site provides information on launching makerspaces in rural libraries as well as mobile libraries. The bottom line is that libraries with makerspaces programs work to generate a sense of community, promote literacy and a love for learning, and increase visibility and value in the eyes of the patrons the library serves.

Before making any decisions on whether your library should launch makerspaces programs or not, I invite you to take a closer look at some of the creative ways that other libraries have funded and sourced well-received makerspaces by visiting ALA’s Public Library Association webpage titled “Makerspaces.” Also, take a minute to tour Rockwood Library's makerspace area:

Rockwood Library Maker Space 360 Tour

 

Works Cited

 Hunley, Jonathan. "Making Space for Fun Lessons." The Washington Post, Sep 17 2017, ProQuest. 

 "Makerspaces.” Public Library Association a Division of the American Library Association. June 13, 2016. www.ala.org/pla/resources/tools/technology/makerspaces. Accessed Apr 28, 2021.

ONES, TARA. “Making Makerspaces More Functional and Sustainable.” Teacher Librarian, vol. 48, no. 2, Dec. 2020, pp. 44–46. EBSCOhost, Palomar Library.

“Rockwood Library Makerspace.” YouTube. Mar 27 2017. https://youtu.be/3G58Nb7tvTI. Accessed Apr 28, 2021.

“Rockwood Library Maker Space 360 Tour.” YouTube. 2019 Aug 1. https://youtu.be/Fu9KKnL8onI. Accessed Apr. 28, 2021.

Comments

Post a Comment

"About LMT" Page

The State of School Libraries --- by Patty Hiebert

  According to the American Association of Libraries (ALA), there is a positive correlation between the number of certified librarians in a school and higher test scores among students, yet we see a trend: fewer librarians, lower funding, and higher students per librarian ratios (ALA, “State of America’s Libraries 2020”). How can schools support student success if libraries are taken out of the equation? Case and point: In California, the 2000-2001 academic school year reported ratios of one librarian to 4,306 students (1:4,306) as compared to 2014-2015 when the number of students per librarian increased to 7,187 – that’s about a 67% increase (“State of America’s Libraries 2020”). Another 2016 report published by PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education) compares California to the U.S. average: California with one librarian to 32,216 student ratio as compared to the U.S average of one librarian to 1,178 students ( edpolicyinca.org ). Funding in California is a complicated ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Demise of School Libraries

The Demise of School Libraries by Shannon Rapo The demise of school libraries has been a hot topic in the world of public schools for over a decade. Budget cuts in education have forced many schools to shutter its library or significantly reduce funding. There is also the issue of loss of librarians. According to Keith Curry Lance, a reporter for the School Library Journal, “ Between the 1999–2000 and 2015–16 school years, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that the profession lost the equivalent of more than 10,000 full-time school librarian positions nationwide.”  In her article “Denver Teacher Librarian Brings Students Back to Library”, Kara Yorio showcases a teacher librarian who saw the demise of her library due to lack of focus on reading in the district as well as a complete lack of support from the teachers. The article suggests that if no one is using the library then of course it becomes obsolete. Fortunately, the librarian recognized this and be...
1 comment
Read more

Making Makerspaces Accessible by Sara Zeller

  Making Makerspaces Accessible  By Sara Zeller   “Ultimately, the outcome of maker education and educational makerspaces leads to determination, independence and creative problem solving, and an authentic preparation for the real world through simulating real-world challenges. In short, an educational makerspace is less of a classroom and more of a motivational speech without words” (Kurti et al., 2014, p. 11).       I remember the day first time my son saw a robotics team demonstration. We were at our local library and the high school robotics team was teaching a weekly class on the basics of robotics.  He was too young at the time to join this group but he was enraptured with the concept, that summer I signed him for a Lego robotics camp.  Fast forward to a few years he was old enough to join the class at the library, then join the team at his middle school as well as take the class as an elective.  Being witness t...
Post a Comment
Read more