This document discusses the concept of libraries as makerspaces. It defines makerspaces as places where people can learn tools and materials to develop creative projects through sharing skills and collaborating. Makerspaces are born out of community collaboration and creativity rather than specific equipment. The document outlines several examples of successful makerspace models in libraries, including collaborative models with non-profits, centralized on-site makerspaces, and opportunistic redesign of existing library spaces. It emphasizes that makerspaces should engage a diversity of community members and interests through partnerships, funding, and resources.

1. Libraries as Makerspaces
AFPL
12 September 2013
Russell Palmer

2. What is a makerspace?
• A place where people learn to use tools
and materials and develop creative
projects
• It can be embedded inside an existing
organization or stand alone
• It is adaptable—it can be shaped by
• Educational goals
• The Creative interests of individuals/groups

4. Defined by sharing/collaboration
• Sharing of materials and skills
• Teaching/learning new skills
• Mindset isn’t ―we got a 3D printer, let’s build a
makerspace around it‖
• Makerspaces are not born out of
space/materials
• Born out of the mindset of community
collaboration, partnership, and creativity

5. Incubator for ideas
• A makerspace is an ―incubator for ideas‖
• It is a place where content can be created
• It is a place where content will be
consumed

6. What we can achieve…
• Foster play and exploration
• Nurture peer to peer learning
• Support learning opportunities in the
community
• Work with community members to become
true partners
• Develop a culture of creativity within the
library

7. What works so far?
• Article: Good, T, others. (2013).
Manufacturing Makerspaces. American
Libraries Online.
• http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/
article/manufacturing-makerspaces

8. Generally speaking
• Products, space, configuration in
makerspaces vary wildly
• However, the approaches to
implementation do not
• 3 examples

9. Common misconception:
It isn’t always about technology
• The maker idea can be ―low‖ tech:
• Quilting/Sewing
• Textile design
• Creating film, video, music
• Arts and crafts

10. ―Makerspace models that work‖
• 1. Allen Co. (Indiana) Public Library
• ―Collaborate‖
• Worked with a non-profit called
TekVenutre, who needed space
• The library promotes the TekVenture
Maker Station while TekVenture delivers
the makerspace programs

11. The collaborative goals
• TekVenture needed a practical solution to
their space issue, a physical presence
where the community could visit to learn
about them
• The library needed a partner to help work
through ideas
• expose the library/staff to making
• Collaborative partner to help with implementation
of a makerspace

12. The space
• TekVenture provided a 50-by-10-foot trailer; wired it for
phone, power, and internet; filled it with tools; and then
parked it in a lot across the street from the library.
ACPL’s costs are less than $200 a month for utilities and
other services

13. What happens there?
• Classes by technology and other experts
• basic robot assembly
• circuit bending
• holography
• welding and much more
• 50 classes a month
• Weekly maker meetups*
• library staff receive hands-on exposure to
making

14. *What happens at a maker
meetup?
• It depends
• Structure evolves based on
expertise, equipment, and interests
• ―programmers, electronics
hackers, robotics
enthusiasts, costumers, artists, model
makers, gamers and other like-minded
types can come together and work on
projects‖

15. The impact on library and
community
• Maker Station is home to weekly maker
meetups and the place where library staff
receive hands-on exposure to making

16. 2. Cleveland Public Library (OH):
―centralize, develop, deploy‖
• Goal:
• ―make libraries the center of
learning, where technology is provided
that levels the playing field for the
disadvantaged‖

17. The Space: TechCentral
• State of the art computer lab
• ―Tech toybox‖—Kindles, ipads, and other
technology
• 3D Printer
• In the library (key to this program)
• Utilized former A/V room space, integrated
A/V into general collection

18. Staffing*
• Funded through existing budget lines
• 14 member internal staff team are regular
staff members chosen for technology
prowess
• Staff offer technology training classes and
one-on-one training sessions on tech
topics
• No new hires, staff redeployed from other
departments

19. Addressing staffing concerns
• Volunteers (remember, this is about the community!)
• Students in the community (ischool—but think of the
possibilities with Georgia State/Tech/and beyond!)
• Georgia Tech has a space already—its primarily student
funded/maintained!
• Ifs and buts…
• Some makerspaces may emphasize ―staffing and
expertise as costly as space and equipment‖
• Or model it so that ―staffing the space requires a
minimum of direct staff involvement‖

20. Getting staff buy in
• Get staff at every level involved in every
layer of planning
• Greatest fear- ―will I become outmoded by
technology?‖
• No! opportunity to learn new things
• “By creating access to the experience and establishing it as a natural
extension of our work, we were able to move ahead as a
team, enthusiastically committed to this development of Making in the
library.”
• Lauren Britton & Sue Considine, Fayetteville (NY) Free Library

21. 3. DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library at
the University of Nevada in Reno
• ―Opportunistic/entrepreneurial‖
• Saw changing spaces as the only way to
move with low budget
• Assessed space in library
• Determined print periodicals were low
use, stored off site and recovered 18,000
ft of collaborative space
• Furnished space from surplus

22. The space
• Electronics toolkits
• ―Idea paint‖ instead of whiteboards (-$500 each)
• Two 3D printers (one color, one monochrome)—
reinvested money from periodicals budget
• Increased engagement: ―Prior to the
change, hourly head counts in the library peaked
at 24. Now they average more than 200 and are
expected to reach the rated capacity of 400 by
spring finals week‖

23. Hands on time
• Based on what you know so far, what are some
ideas/subject areas you might consider when creating
makerspaces?
• Consider your community of users (who are they? What
do they need to know?)
• Consider broad ideas:
education, collaboration, learning, partnerships
• And in teams of two, take 5 minutes and come up with a
list of three ideas for ―what should we do/what should be
in our makerspace‖ and for each of those, come up with
one learning outcome

24. Example
• My community-Many older adults with limited technology
experience
• Need:
– To learn more about using mobile devices
• Subject area for my makerspace:
– Mobile technology
• What is in my space?:
– Create a Technology Tool Box per the example of Cleveland
Public Library with mobile devices donated from the community
or a retail partner (Best Buy?)
• Result:
– Older adults learn more about/get hands on experience with
mobile devices

25. Keeping their attention
• Adults:
• ―I think that [librarians should be] actively
pursuing ways to help people who are
from nontraditional audiences in your
hackerspaces, find the thing that they
need to do and show them how to do it‖

26. Keeping their attention
• Kids:
• ―Throwing smart, enthusiastic kids—who have received
a little bit of mentorship—at a mountain of e-waste is the
best way to get going, I think. Particularly if you can
partner up with places that need computers. If you can
get started turning e-waste into functional
computers, your problem isn’t going to be making
computers run; it is going to be getting rid of them fast
enough.‖
– Cory Doctorow

27. Keeping teens engaged
• Have a diversity of equipment and ideas
(remember, not JUST about technology)
• Don’t forget women and girls
– example: Make Magazine in ―Men’s Interest
section of periodicals at bookstore
– Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) Magazine
dedicated its August 2013 issue to
makerspaces and teens

28. Example
• ―The first part of my Mobile Makerspace involves storage carts on
wheels, a ton of Legos, a ton of Duct Tape, cutting boards
and, scariest of all, safety cutting blades (regular scissors don't work
well for Duct Tape). My goal is to be able to easily move the items
in and out of the meeting room to have my makerspace programs.
The initial cost wasn't bad, around $1,000. And it has broad appeal
for school age, tween and teens. It allows them to get their creativity
and problem solving on in a safe, social environment. Eventually I
would love to add some higher tech elements, but this is the right
starting point for my library.‖
» Karen Jensen, On the Teen Librarian Tool Box blog
» http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2013/08/teen-makerspaces-your-library.html

29. Teens-engagement
• With peers and mentors
• Building trust relationships
• Building PRODUCTIVE relationships that help them
learn
• Listen to input from teen users
• ―If teens see an exciting space and develop with mentors
who can introduce new interests and build in
new/additional ones with teen input, they'll stay‖
– Buffy Hamilton, formerly of Cleveland Public
Library

30. Funding
• IMLS Grants
• ―Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums‖
• http://www.imls.gov/about/learning_labs.as
px

31. Funding
• Donations
– $
– Time
– Equipment
– Space
• Collaboration
– Educational Institutions
– Non-profit groups
– ? Where could AFPL look?

32. Resources-General
• Make Magazine Online
• http://makezine.com/
• Makerspace Playbook
• http://makerspace.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/02/MakerspacePlaybook-
Feb2013.pdf
• Makerspaces: Surveying the Scene in Illinois (ILA)
• http://www.ila.org/Reporter/April_2013/Pg4-9.pdf
• ―Manufacturing Makerspaces‖
• http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/manufa
cturing-makerspaces

33. Finding makerspaces, Maker
Faires, meet ups, etc.
• http://www.meetup.com
• Makerspace Directory
• http://makerspace.com/makerspace-
directory

34. Key Makerspaces in Libraries
• FabLab-Fayetteville (NY) Free Public
Library
• http://www.fflib.org/fablab
• Cleveland Public Library
• http://www.cpl.org/TheLibrary/SubjectsColl
ections/TechCentral.aspx
• Georgia Tech Invention Studio
• http://inventionstudio.gatech.edu/

35. More key libraries
• AnyThink Libraries (CO)
• https://www.anythinklibraries.org/thestudio
• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
• http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?t
ag=makerspace
• Chicago Public Library ―Pop Ups‖
• https://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/
111023/

36. Teen/Kids specific makerspaces
• Madison Public Library
– http://librarymakers.blogspot.com/
• Prairie Creek Library (K12) Anime Club
– http://prairiecreeklibrary.blogspot.com/2012/0
9/anime-and-so-much-more-
club.html?spref=fb
• H.Y.P.E at Detroit Public Library
– http://www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/hype

37. More stuff
• A Librarian’s Guide to Makerspaces (Open
Education Database)
• http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/a-librarians-guide-
to-makerspaces/

38. Thank you!
Russell Palmer
Supervisor, Professional Development
LYRASIS
russell.palmer@lyrasis.org
800-999-8558, ext 4916