Makerspaces are areas within school libraries that allow students to be creative, innovative, and learn practical skills through hands-on experiences. The document discusses the history of makerspaces originating from the DIY movement in 2005. Makerspaces provide tools for activities like 3D printing, crafts, robotics, and more to engage students and support STEM and other subjects. The case study of New Milford High School shows how transforming their library into a vibrant makerspace helped students take ownership of their learning. Makerspaces allow for creativity and innovative ways to meet education standards.

1. The Development of
Makerspaces in School Libraries
By Angel Sloss

2. Introduction
• In today’s society the implementation of advanced
technology being integrated into school media centers
across the nation, always involves school
administrators, teachers, librarians and all other
various personnel in educator roles.
• Through careful planning, budgeting and advocating
through federal agencies, school media centers can
gradually reap the benefits of integrated technological
advances within the center to support a challenging
curriculum aligned with national and state standards.

3. Makerspaces
• Such advances in technology can be used to create
integrated technology learning areas called
Makerspaces.
• Makerspaces are DIY spaces where people can gather to
create, invent, and learn.

4. Makers: History
• Makerspaces first seem to appear around 2005 as part of
the much popular DIY (Do it yourself) movement.
• DIY (Do it yourself) movement : Spirited with the old
view of the industrial revolution, “to make” and recycled
into modern enrichment classes; such as, woodshop,
computer classes, and art classes.

5. Makers: Purpose
The purpose of the maker is to create a comfortable
environment for users to experiment, create and learn
within a controlled environment.

6. Makerspaces: Approach
Makerspaces allow students to explore objectives within
the curriculum with a “hands on” approach.

7. Makerspaces & Tools
Often you will see such spaces include 3D printers, which
are optional, to produce three dimensional products like
toys and robots; in addition to, tools for welding, building,
software for the production of music; as well as, craft and
art supplies.

8. Makerspaces: Instruction and Creative
Freedom
• The making environment is conveniently supported by,
“local, state and national standards for creativity,
productivity, thinking, learning, contributing and inquiry
are met through makerspace activities” (Preddy, 2014, p.
5).
• Not only does is support CORE and STEM, but it also
supports AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner
by engaging students to “think”.

9. Programming & Workshops
Makerspaces in the media center need to support the
curriculum by hosting appropriate unit planned
programs & workshops.
For example, a Biology unit that involves studying rocks
and minerals .

10. Examples of Unit Workshops
Storytelling Unit involving telling
stories through fun treats.
Geometry Unit involving kite
making .

11. Makerspaces & School Library Goals
• Display effort and participation by asking learners
questions and allowing learners to investigate
answers with meaningful facts.
• Demonstrate adaption skills and allow students to
adjust their focus and search for a variety of resources
to achieve success.

12. School Library Goals Continued
• Develop students into leaders and support self-
confidence when learners present to their peers.
• Allow for critical thinking to produce alternative
conclusions.

13. New Milford High School Case Study
New Milford High School (NMHS) in New Milford, New
Jersey’s space was very humble and students engaged in
simple tinkering that was unscripted.

14. New Milford High School
• The librarian on staff accepted the challenge of
reinventing the library to transform it into a vibrant
learning facility, and the principal offered full support
and professional freedom.
• The transformation of the library space resulted in a
thriving learning environment for students.
• Success also came from staff and faculty adopting a
“hands off” approach to the makerspace, and
transferring ownership over to the student body.

15. What did we learn?
• There’s no limit to the types of workshops one could
create in the makerspace environment to fit curriculum
needs.
• The school library media center is a perfect place for
makerspaces to exist because it is a place where
students come together to collaborate; fostering
learning and the, “think, learn and build knowledge”
mission of makerspaces.

16. Looking Back…
Makerspaces are very exciting and can be fun for all of
those involved. School Libraries can support national and
state standards for education in an innovative way that
includes the integration of high demand technology.
Makerspaces allow for the transfer of ownership from
faculty to students; making students responsible for their
learning.

17. References
Canino-Fluitt, A. A. (2014). School Library Makerspaces. Teacher
Librarian, 41(5), 21-27.
Fernandez, P. (2014). Through the Looking glass: envisioning
new library technologies the possibilities and challenges of 3D
Printing. Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 31 Iss: 5.
Gustafson, E. E. (2013). Meeting Needs: Makerspaces and School
Libraries. School Library Monthly, 29(8), 35-36.
Kurti, R. S., Kurti, D. D., & Fleming, L. l. (2014). Practical
Implementation of an Educational Makerspace. Teacher
Librarian, 42(2), 20-24.
Moorefield-Lang, H. (2015). Making, Libraries, and Literacies.
Library Media Connection, 33(4), 30-31.
Preddy, L. (2013). School library makerspaces: Grades 6-12.