Maker Spacers: To Have or Have Not?

Makerspaces are the newest rage in the library world.  But, what is a Makespace? 
According to an article on the Open Education Database website, a Makerspace is "also referred to as hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs are creative, DYI spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn.  In libraries, they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more."  These "spaces" offer individuals the opportunity to create instead of just consume.  Who wouldn't support the opportunity for our students to be able to make things and experience real world situations?  But, are they good for all libraries?  Do they fit into all library programs?  Can every school maintain one long term or continue to financially support one in an economically deficient community?  These questions are important to ask in order to assess whether a well created and maintained makerspace should be installed in a school library.  Within the next year, I am creating a 3-5 year plan for my own library that may, or may not, contain a makerspace.  These questions will be essential in assessing my school communities ability to sustain this type of learning space. 

Three weeks ago, I gathered some students together in order to get a better sense of what they thought would make our library at Spaulding a better place.  Part of my 3-5 year plan needed input from students.  When we talked about literacy issues or increasing usage of the library, they described a place of activity, not a place of study.  They wanted a place to create and to BE.  Along with a "cafeteria" or an area where they cold bring in food, they described an area of the library they could create.  A place where there was a "graffiti wall" or a space where they could draw , a place to games (both board and video) and to have chances to make things. I was excited, because what they were asking for are the very things that a makerspace is and all about.  I suddenly had a vision of the Essex, VT library and their Learning Commons that specifically included a Makerspace for their students.  It is a topnotch, first rate makerspace that includes a video studio, organized bins of materials, and enough space to have multiple different projects going on at the same time and individuals to monitor and provide their students guidence and instruction.  The question is, can or will our community here in Barre be able to support and sustain such a space financially; especially in the form of additional people to physically monitor the space? 

Can I provide our students with a media center?  Yes, I have the space and Green Screen technology for media creation.  I don't however, have the software and state of the art computers for the space.  Can I provide our students with the materials for creation such as paper, fabric, buttons, stencils, and other types of materials for creation? Yes, I can purchase some out of the budget and perhaps even call upon the community for donations. Can I bring in robotics and other types of engineering activities to the space?  Well, this may be a little harder as I am a history teacher and couldn't tell you the difference between the positive and negative side of a battery, let alone how to create a mini-robot.  Yet, I can almost guarantee I can find someone to volunteer their time to come and play/build/create with the students.  We could, given the funds, build and supply a Makerspace, this I have no doubt.  The problem comes in providing the man power necessary for providing adequate and safe supervision.  I would love to organize these wonderful activities, but I am one person and I am constantly fighting to keep my workforce as is.  The reality is for most communities is that instead of investing in education and being innovative in their approach,  many schools are having to make very difficult choices in how monies are spent; especially since personnel tend to be the first on cut list.  This would have to be a conversation had with the School Board on many levels.  I also would have to convince other teachers of the value in these types of programs.  I had an art teacher look at me with fear and a bit of jealousy when I told him about my plans.  He took it as a threat to his programs instead of an extension of his work.  I was unprepared for that response and recognize that it may take some convincing.    

Do I beleive that Makerspaces are appropriate for a Library?  YES!  No one can deny the impact a Makerspace would have on a library and the educational community.  The Edutopia article we read this week states, " While formal learning can also happen in both spaces, as classes are brought in to work toward more prescribed learning objectives, most school libraries and makerspaces are equally as supportive of non-curricular, student-driven, independent explorations."   Student NEED and WANT to create and a library can be a perfect place for our students to create as well as consume, however, the type of space that would allow for this type of innovation needs to be a priority and I don't think our community would be able to support it.  Nonetheless, my 3-5 year plan does include room for innovation on a smaller scale.  I am going to try to provide our students with some type of creation space where they can come and experience new things.  They don't have this enough.  

OPED Resources:  A Librarian's To Makerspaces: 16 Resources


Image Citation:  
 Storck-Post, Holly. "A School Library Makerspace with Colleen Graves." A School Library Makerspace with Collen Graves. Library as Incubator Project, 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 12 June 2016.