What is the reasoning behind creating Makerspaces in Libraries?

Question

There is a good bit of interest in creating Makerspaces in libraries. It seems like a significant departure from the role of libraries as places that offer access to knowledge and information to be places where folks make things.

I would be curious to know how libraries are justifying why they should have Makerspaces in them?

Answer 1

Libraries have been involved in participatory learning for a long time - think about visiting authors that allow you to ask questions about how they write, computer classes where you sit at a computer and apply what is being taught, book clubs where folks share responsibility for the discussions, and reference sessions where librarians teach people how to find information on their own. The Makerspace is an extension of this as well as the fairly traditional role of the library as a community space. In a Makerspace, knowledge and skills are shared democratically across age groups. The library serves as physical resource, materials resource, as moderator, and perhaps also as teacher.

Having said that, it is not a match for every library's mission, and it also dilutes a library's focus. We do so much already, and to keep adding things on our plates means we probably do all things less well. For some libraries, it may be an attempt to be more relevant to an otherwise disinterested community - like gaming, which was about getting kids into the library where they might discover the other cool things we do, and making the library a place were kids feel comfortable coming so that they might come back for other reasons in the future.

I personally think it's a trend, and like gaming, it will be attempted and then replaced in many libraries, surviving in the few where the community really takes an interest. I think in the library world, we have a tendency to jump on to new ideas because other libraries are doing them instead of really looking at what our community is asking for. I don't think it is a match for my community any more than gaming was.

I do see a need in my community for community engagement, however. People come into the library to connect with other people - the staff, the volunteers, the other people in our various programs. They come into the library to learn, and they enjoy being introduced to new subjects and ideas. I don't think the idea of a Makerspace is outside of our mission, I just don't think it is a fit for this particular community.

PLA has a webinar that might be of interest here. There is an interesting defense of makerspaces here as something a community needs (but not necessarily attached to a library).

Answer 2

Here is a link to a document we drafted in support of the library studio at Columbia University. To quote from it:

"Life in the library increasingly requires the use of communal, unstructured space. Hackathons, THATcamps, meetups, workshops, and open labs--these emerging models of getting together, sharing knowledge, and getting things done have their local constituency, which up until now exists as a vibrant but fractured (and homeless) community on Columbia’s Morningside campus.

We believe that the library collections are the natural playground for digital humanists, computational social scientists, open-source advocates, library activists, close and distant readers. As catalog and periodical reading rooms are phased out in favor of Google groups and computer labs, we think it is important to preserve a neutral, flexible space for experimentation in the humanities."

It is likely that the Studio will be opening this summer. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

We have been looking at a Makerspace here at Central Connecticut State University. It is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned for a Public Library to offer this. At an Academic Library it makes sense as well but is perhaps in need of a little selling. Users are already using our libraries to create things (articles, research papers, podcasts...) and it stands to reason many of them will want to create in three dimensions. Just as there was a debate over whether we needed to provide students with laser printers to print out resumes this is the next logical step of providing 3D printing. Libraries that do not provide what their communities want are by definition useless and should be closed as a waste of money. I believe this is something our community wants. By all means test this at your location. Have a Maker Fair. Sponsor an event. See if this is something your users want. That should define your mission not the other way around.

Answer 4

Have you seen The Making of Maker Spaces, the 3-part series that appeared in The Digital Shift (Library Journal) last fall? It looks at different flavours of maker spaces, the role of the community, and outcomes from maker spaces.