Makerspaces

MAKERSPACES ENCOURAGE LEARNING

By Rosemary Rico

Part of the new wave of forward thinking libraries is the inclusion of places called “Makerspaces.” So what is a Makerspace? Makerspaces are a lot like how they sound. They are collaborative work spaces set aside for the specific purposes of allowing others to create/ discover/ and pursue new ideas, creations and interests (Blakemore). Makerspaces encourages creativity, invention, discussion, passions and sharing of ideas (Sierra). Makerspaces offer individuals the chance to lean through the act of questioning and doing—and although makerspaces can include high tech devices such as 3D printers, laptops, and video cameras, they don’t need to or be required to have these and makerspaces can be done with lower budgets,  using what is easily available (Bolkan).  

Makerspaces are important spaces to discover and share new ideas with others and are being utilized in libraries, classrooms and other community oriented spaces. Makerspaces in classrooms may correspond to particular areas of study or topics—but makerspaces in libraries, individuals can choose what to create/collaborate/ or discuss and can pursue any interest  they want—all while utilizing the resources of the libraries to delve deeper into their passions. These kinds of spaces are part of the 21st century libraries—where literacy through reading printed books are not the only things encouraged in libraries (Sierra). Makerspaces are becoming popular and I certainly hope to see these kinds of spaces in every library and every school in the future.

🔻WATCH THIS🔻

"The library of the future" is a Ted Talk video explaining more about makerspaces and shows examples of how it can look like in a library. 

To view another example of a makerspace in libraries, watch "Rockwood Library Makerspace" a youtube video featuring the makerspace at Rockwood Library from The Library Foundation. 

Works Cited:

Blakemore, Megan. "Problem Scoping: Design Thinking & Close Reading Makerspaces in the School Library." Knowledge Quest, vol. 46, no. 4, Mar/Apr2018, pp. 66-69. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=128199635&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Bolkan, Joshua. "Integrating Makerspaces throughout the Curriculum." T H E Journal, vol. 45, no. 2, Mar/Apr2018, pp. 20-23. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=128565505&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Sierra, Kristin. "If You Build It, They Will Come: How I Started a Makerspace from Scratch." Knowledge Quest, vol. 46, no. 2, Nov/Dec2017, pp. 42-48. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=125991982&site=ehost-live&scope=site.