MakerSpace in the library

Library Makerspaces: From Dream to Reality

Instructor: Melissa Robinson

Dates: April 6 to May 1st, 2015

Credits: 1.5 CEUs

Price: $175

http://libraryjuiceacademy.com/114-makerspaces.php

Designing a makerspace for your library is an ambitious project that requires significant staff time and energy. The economic, educational and inspirational rewards for your community and your library, however, will make it all worthwhile. This class will make the task of starting a makerspace less daunting by taking librarians step by step through the planning process. Using readings, online resources, discussions and hands-on exercises, participants will create a plan to bring a makerspace or maker activities to their libraries. Topics covered will include tools, programs, space, funding, partnerships and community outreach. This is a unique opportunity to learn in depth about one public library’s experience creating a fully-functioning makerspace, while also exploring other models for engaging libraries in the maker movement.

Melissa S. Robinson is the Senior Branch Librarian at the Peabody Institute Library’s West Branch in Peabody, Massachusetts. Melissa has over twelve years of experience in public libraries. She has a BA in political science from Merrimack College, a graduate certificate in Women in Politics and Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a MLIS from Southern Connecticut State University. She is the co-author of Transforming Libraries, Building Communities (Scarecrow Press, 2013).

Read an interview with Melissa about this class:

http://libraryjuiceacademy.com/news/?p=733

Course Structure

This is an online class that is taught asynchronously, meaning that participants do the work on their own time as their schedules allow. The class does not meet together at any particular times, although the instructor may set up optional sychronous chat sessions. Instruction includes readings and assignments in one-week segments. Class participation is in an online forum environment.

Payment Info

You can register in this course through the first week of instruction. The “Register” button on the website goes to our credit card payment gateway, which may be used with personal or institutional credit cards. (Be sure to use the appropriate billing address). If your institution wants to pay using a purchase order, please contact us to make arrangements.

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Making, Collaboration, and Community: fostering lifelong learning and innovation in a library makerspace
Tuesday, April 7, 2015 10AM-11:30AM PDT
Registration link: http://www.cla-net.org/?855

Travis Good will share insights garnered from having visited different makerspaces and Maker Faires across the country. He will explain why “making” is fundamentally important, what its affecting and why libraries are natural place to house makerspaces. Uyen Tran will discuss how without funding, she was able to turn a study room with two 3D printers into a simple makerspace that is funded and supported by the community. She will also provide strategies for working with community partners to provide free and innovative maker programs and creating a low cost/no cost library maker environment. Resources and programming ideas will also be provided for libraries with varying budgets and staffing. Upon completing this webinar, every attendee should be able to start implementing “maker” programs at their library.

1 Comment on MakerSpace in the library

  1. Plamen Miltenoff
    March 30, 2015 at 2:27 pm (9 years ago)

    Technology Toolbox (via LibGuides)
    http://libraryguides.oswego.edu/toolbox/

    http://library-maker-culture.weebly.com/makerspaces-in-libraries.html
    Explore the links below for some examples of how makerspaces are being incorporated into both academic and public library settings. Many of these makerspaces include 3D printing services, but most expand beyond to offer a number of different services to library patrons. If you are thinking about creating your own makerspace, check out Emily Thompson’s Technology Toolbox for a list of useful software. If you are thinking about partnerships with local makerspaces, you can start with the Maker Community Groups and Spaces list.

    http://spaces.makerspace.com/makerspace-directory
    Makerspace.com is establishing a world-wide directory of Makerspaces to encourage the growth of Maker communities all over the globe. By adding your Makerspace in this listing, you not only become part of our searchable database for Makers seeking like-minded people in their area but you also contribute to our study of the Makers Movement as a whole.

    From: Kevin Bauer [mailto:kbauer@ualibrary.org]
    Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 9:14 AM
    To: lita-l@lists.ala.org; newellz@simmons.edu
    Subject: [lita-l] Re: Makerspace Study

    Hello Zachary,
    I was just researching makerspaces in libraries for a presentation. If you haven’t looked at them already, you might find the following links useful:
    Libraries and Makerculture
    Makerspace Directory
    Good morning,
    Kevin


    Kevin Bauer
    Emerging Technologies Librarian
    Upper Arlington Public Library
    (614) 486-9621 x. 228
    ualibrary.org

    On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 4:28 PM, Zachary Newell wrote:
    Dear Colleagues:

    I am a doctoral student at Simmons College conducting a pilot study on the use of makerspaces in both academic and public libraries. The initial phase of the study is meant to identify which libraries, both public and academic, have makerspaces, then to follow-up to find out how they are being used.

    If you have a makerspace, and are willing to answer questions about the use and composition of the space, please fill out the Google form by clicking on the link below.

    http://goo.gl/hYlmeB

    Thank you!

    Zachary Newell
    Doctoral Student
    Simmons College
    Boston, MA
    newellz@simmons.edu

    Reply

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