As our libraries increasingly adapt to future visions and future needs of the communities they serve, I have been intrigued by the addition of maker spaces along with our traditional shelves of books. As someone who has always been interested in crafting and DIY, the prospect of these opportunities excites me. However, as the sole librarian at our school, this also overwhelms me. Although the video attached to this post has provided me with insight into the benefits of a maker space, I remain slightly hesitant. As I’ve seen our Public Libraries become more focused on lending objects other than books, a part of me is saddened and wonders if we are adding these items simply to encourage clients to enter the library or if they encourage literacy just as books do.
After doing some research, I realized that, as Buffy J. Hamilton states, “a maker space culture supports the mission of libraries to enable lifelong learning and to support knowledge creation in their communities” (Hamilton, 2014). Maker spaces allow learning to take place creatively and also follow academic standards. Education must not only be about the curriculum but also leave space for exploration of shared interests with others. Feeling connected to others can be a strong motivation for learning. It is a space where everyone can feel that their contributions matter.
Maker spaces also allow students to learn in multiple ways. Often, we forget that learning happens not only in the classroom. Following kindergarten, teaching styles often move away from the play-based or inquiry model to a more formal setting. Allowing for multiple styles of learning is beneficial for all our students. It also allows students to be in charge of their own learning rather than simply absorbing what is in front of them.
One drawback of maker spaces is, of course, finding funding. Many of our libraries are underfunded, and librarians must fundraise to continue adding new collections to our shelves. Supplies for maker spaces cost money and will most likely need to be replenished with use. Librarians are often tasked with thrifting or additional fundraising to meet the needs of these spaces. As a new librarian, this is what has stopped me from building these spaces in my library. I am still struggling to find the time to cover all the bases in my library as it now stands. I see the value in these spaces, so I need to remind myself to start small and continue building on this aspect of my library as time passes.
Working collaboratively with teachers and experts in the field can help you start small and build on their experience to create a wonderful maker space in your library. Try checking out some of the following blogs to get you started on your maker space journey! Check out the following resources on this topic:
This is a strong first post. I appreciate the way you have woven in ideas and support from additional reading and research. You have also included great blogging elements (embedded video, hyperlinks). These enriched your discussion and provided great takeaways for your reader. Looking forward to seeing where your learning takes you! For your next post, consider the formatting on your reference list. In this post, the text wraps and it is difficult to see the different sources.
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