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Markerspaces by Emilce Sirkin

 

Markerspaces

By Emilce Sirkin

Markerspaces is a relatively new concept for me. The first time I read about it was last semester while searching for information for one paper that I needed to write for my Intro to Libraries class. I read that one library in North California, Redwood City Public Library has honey bees on its roof, and it offers educational talks about bees at its Bee Wall Interpretive Center. I am not really sure if this falls into the makerspaces concept; however, it is pretty impressive and educational. Also, it shows how libraries are creative and inspirational entities.

“Markerspaces are defined as DIY (Do-it-Yourself) spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn” (Apodaca). It is a new trend that helps libraries to expand their services in science, technology, engineering, and math to their communities. For example, the Ramona Library’s Dick Wayman Technology Center features MarkerBot 3D printer, HP Sprout 3D Scanner, computers with large Monitors and Corel VideoStudio an editing software. Also, the library provides classes to teach patrons how to use these resources.

According to Antonio Apodaca, the Markerspace librarian for the Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, “a makerspace is successful if its users feel, know, and act like they can make a real difference in the world around them,” and “makerspaces need to be messy, noisy places of innovation.” And this is why I think that those bees living at the Redwood City Public Library roof can be part of this makerspace trend.

References

Apodaca, Antonio. “Makerspace Next.” CSLA Journal, vol. 40, no. 2, Winter 2017, pp. 5–8. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=120994601&site=ehost-live. Accessed 5 April, 2021.

“RCPL's Honey Bees.” RCPL's Honey Bees | City of Redwood City, www.redwoodcity.org/departments/library/rcpl-info/rcpl-s-honey-bees. Accessed 5 April 2021.

San Diego County Library, www.sdcl.org/dick-wayman-technology-center.html. Accessed 5              April 2021.




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