Skip to main content

Libraries as Community Makerspaces



A makerspace increases the value of a library as a community resource. Why? It provides a place for professionals to pursue their hobbies after their work hours and to explore their creativity in close proximity to books and other resources that inspire and provoke ideas. 

Traditionally, libraries are repositories of books and quiet places of reading. Modern libraries, however, have features that allow them to serve as community resources that function as hubs where people can discuss ideas and plan projects over coffee and snacks. 

Makerspace events allow users to maximize the library as a community resource, as well as promote the library collection. 

HOW TO CREATE LIBRARY MAKERSPACES? 

The formula we use to create a library makerspace is as follows: 

Theme + Collaboration + Resource/Venue Support = Makerspace success! 

Theme 

  • The theme allows the library and its collaborators to link the activity’s theme with purpose and nature of the library. 
  • The subject matter of the project guides the organization of the program, from choosing the sponsors to qualifying the speakers/lecturers to inviting participants. 

Some themes are relevant to specific months, such as July being the nutrition month, etc. Other themes may be created in coordination with various community organizations to enrich and widen the reach of a specific campaign.

Collaboration 

  • Proper communication between participants will identify potential pitfalls and problems early. 
  • The special library and a collaborating organization shares the legwork, including setting up the library space before and after the activity, finding sponsors, and coming up with promotional materials. 

Because the library has limited manpower, the collaborating organization provides additional help with disseminating information, at the very least. Also, promoting the event can be difficult if it's just one or two people working, even with the power of social media. 

Resource/Venue Support 

  • The library adjusts its operations accordingly depending on the demands of the event, e.g., extension of opening hours when the film showing is done at night, opening the library during weekends to accommodate writing workshops.

Some arrangements for payment for electricity and other resources may be necessary. Proper protocol for using library resources, e.g., projector, screens, chairs, etc., must be known to all participants and stakeholders.  All things must be agreed upon and clear-cut for the partnership to work for the long term.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Common and Oddball Niches to Pursue on Amazon KDP

 In my blogs about making money online, I mentioned selling journals and logbooks on Amazon KDP. In some cases, I make journals out of ideas and inspirations I get from my life as a librarian, mother of a young adult, and a restaurateur/party caterer. I may sell the journals myself (selling mined gold) or sell them to people who might want to develop them as their own products on Amazon KDP (selling shovels for others to mine gold with).  If you want to find out more about the latter, here is the link to my Creative Fabrica store:  https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/ruby-cari-galvez/ref/2135193/ In my brainstorming, I thought of several oddball and common niches that I could develop products around. Here they are... First-Time Homeowner's Planner – Step-by-step guidance and to-do lists for managing house projects, budgeting, and maintenance. Solo Hiking Journal – A log for solo hikers to track routes, wildlife sightings, reflections, and survival tips. Eco-Conscio...
Read more

What is Special About a Coming-of-age Novel?

A  coming-of-age novel  has distinct traits that set it apart from other genres, primarily through its focus on personal growth and self-discovery. Here’s what makes it unique:        1.     Focus on Character Development        -     Core Theme:     The central theme of a coming-of-age novel is personal transformation. The protagonist, usually a young person, matures through experiences, gaining insight into themselves and the world.    -     Compared to Other Genres:     While many genres focus on external conflicts (e.g., fantasy battles or mystery puzzles), the coming-of-age novel centers on   internal   conflicts—struggles with identity, morality, and self-understanding.        2.     Transition from Youth to Adulthood        -     Rite of Passage:...
Read more

Playtime is Library Time: the Library as a Place of Adventure

When I was a kid, the word “library” meant one thing: boredom. It conjured up images of stuffy silence, stern librarians, and endless shelves of dusty books that seemed more interested in gathering cobwebs than capturing my imagination. Yet, I’ve since learned that this perception couldn’t be more wrong. The library is not a place where fun goes to die; it’s a playground for the mind. So why do we, as adults, so often pass it off as a dreary destination for last-minute study sessions or research marathons? I can’t help but think we’ve done our children a disservice by failing to frame it as what it really is: a place of adventure, discovery, and, yes, play. Imagine for a moment if the library wasn’t treated like a "last resort" when you've exhausted all other options for entertainment. What if, instead, it was seen as a treasure chest waiting to be opened? Each shelf a new map to a far-off land, every book a ticket to a new world where anything is possible? This shift in ...
Read more