Makerspaces

John J. Burke is principal librarian and director of the Gardner-Harvey Library on the Middletown regional campus of Miami University of Ohio. He is former president of the Academic Library Association of Ohio and former chair of the Southwest Ohio Council on Higher Education Library Council.Ellyssa Kroski is director of information technology at the New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of thirty-six books. She is a librarian, an adjunct faculty member at Drexel and San Jose State universities, and an international conference speaker. She was just named the winner of the 2017 Library Hi Tech Award from the American Library Association and the Library Information Technology Association for her long-term contributions in the area of library and information science technology and its application.

The modern maker movement has gained momentum over the last two decades by infusing the creative spirit and shared infrastructure/resources of artisan cooperatives with the discovery/educational nature of libraries. As did the first edition (2014), this updated version of Burke’s guide introduces librarians to the maker concept and to helps them determine whether such spaces are a good fit for their organizations. After a brief review of maker history and how libraries became involved in the movement, readers are introduced to the practical assessment and planning steps to take before implementation. Everything from space, resources, and talent needs to the types of programs, services, and equipment to offer is addressed without being prescriptive because a makerspace should align with the interests of a library’s constituents. Makers work in all socioeconomic sectors and in a variety of environments, so the steps outlined apply to all library types, as illustrated through profiles of 18 different makerspaces throughout the country. Though the presentation and language are readily accessible to all readers, the text is clearly oriented toward professional librarians responsible for designing programs and services for their institutions.Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers, faculty, and professionals.

• CHAPTER 1 The Library as a Creation and Collaboration Space: An IntroductionCHAPTER 2 The Maker Movement and Building Up a Making Mind-SetCHAPTER 3 An Overview of Makerspace ImplementationsCHAPTER 4 What Will Patrons Make in Your Makerspace?CHAPTER 5 Budgeting for a MakerspaceCHAPTER 6 Resources for Audio, Image, and Video CreationCHAPTER 7 Resources for Crafts and Artistic PursuitsCHAPTER 8 Resources for Electronics, Robotics, and ProgrammingCHAPTER 9 Resources for 3D Printing and PrototypingCHAPTER 10 Resources for the Unexpected: Lesser-Known Making CHAPTER 11 Approaches for Developing a Makerspace That Enables MakersCHAPTER 12 Remaking the Library? Tracking the Present and Future of Making in LibrariesAppendix: Makerspaces in Libraries Survey