Maker Spaces: Things that Go Bop, Whizz, and Clank!

Innovative partnerships, creative thinking, and risk taking: the development of a library makerspace

The experience of creating and running a library makerspace can be daunting. In this session we will discuss the need to intentionally forget many of things we know about running an excellent library in order to run an excellent makerspace. This is not easy for everyone. The many skills, rules, procedures, and policies librarians have carefully and rightly honed for information and resource collecting, sharing, tracking, and keeping in perpetuity do not mesh well with the “let’s make a mess;” “it’s okay to fail;” “try it and see what happens” nature of makerspaces. A quick scan of the literature provides ample information on how to develop a makerspace. There are inspirational pieces explaining why makerspaces matter in libraries. You can find guidance on how to develop competencies and a culture of making among the communities we are serving.

This session will address the challenge of reshaping one's mindset in adopting a different spirit of entrepreneurship in order to fully engage with, support and develop new spaces and services. We will explore creative partnerships that spur innovative thinking to help us grow our local makerspace mindsets. We will learn how to critically question our deeply embedded approaches to library work, understanding that these important and well developed methodologies may not fully apply in makerspaces. We will consider different ways to approach questions, concerns, and quandaries presented by makerspace services. In the end, we will learn that practicing “thinking differently” could serve us well in all we do.

Breakin’ Libraries for Makers 2: Electric Boogaloo

JMU’s Libraries reorganized to bring previously siloed services together into a new unit anchored by two new makerspaces. This presentation will examine both successes and stumbles, as we learn what attracts participants to programming, what technologies engage them, and what gets them coming back. Participants will learn about classroom assignments that illustrate how this reorganization has transformed how we support non-traditional forms of scholarship and programming involving 3D printing, virtual reality, creative problem solving and more.

The ROI of Sustaining an Academic Library Makerspace

Most interest in library makerspaces has focused on the implementation stage of such spaces by highlighting the aspects of funding and space setup. With its makerspace entering its fourth year of existence, the San Diego State University Library has turned to investigating the return on investment, and sustainability, of its program. This presentation will address how to leverage data and lessons learned to demonstrate the opportunities afforded by a library makerspace that are directly beneficial for students, librarians, and the library. It will highlight the various ways a makerspace community impacts student success with regard to academics, social relationships, and career-readiness. It will define how the makerspace has helped evolve the liaison relationship to a more meaningful connection between librarians and students. Finally, it will share how the makerspace has transformed the context of the library for many, doing so in a sustainable manner that can be maintained with only nominal support.