As an artistic person, the idea of makerspaces is very exciting. Back when I was deciding what I wanted to do with my life, I almost became an art teacher. In the end I decided to become a school librarian, but I've always incorporated art into the library. While I don't have a dedicated "makerspace' in my library, I've always encouraged my students to be creative while in the library.
What struck me the most while reading through all the articles and blog posts for this assignment was the wide variety of programs schools and libraries have that all fall under the umbrella of makerspaces. I couldn't help but laugh as I read about school libraries with dozens of power tools, 3D printers, robotics kits, and other expensive equipment. What sort of budgets do they have? It was nice to see the more realistic maker tubs created with donated materials.
Another thing I realized while reading was that makerspaces seem to have made shop, home ec, and art cool again. When I was in high school, shop and home ec were facing cuts (my district actually did cut home ec in high school, although it still took place in middle school). Now, with the new term of "makerspace," these classes are necessary again. It makes me wonder whether it is better to have shop, home ec, and art as separate classes or to lump them all under the umbrella of "makerspaces."
While I mentioned that I love the idea of having a makerspace in the library because it combines my two favorite things, I also hear stories about schools getting rid of their libraries, drastically reducing their space, and/or replacing them with ebooks and electronic resources in order to make room for makerspaces. This makes me cringe. No matter how far technology advances, there will always be the need for books and the need to learn how to access information. I think the two can happily coexist.
I recently attended my school's science fair and was very happily surprised to find that a lot of the students were doing things that fall under the umbrella of "makerspaces" in science. Two students made their own lip balm. One made her own jewelry. A few are in the process of making board games and apps. They're able to do this because we have a lot of partnerships with local businesses and organizations, as well as a few non-local ones.
A few librarians in my district received a grant to create a "makerspace to go" last year. It has a 3D printer, tangrams, rubik's cubes, origami, and drawing supplies, as well as dozens of print books and ebooks to go with it. I signed up to get the makerspace in June and am very excited to end the year with it! My plan is to create my own official makerspace to go with it, that will stay in my library after the makerspace to go moves onto the next library.
After reading the materials in this assignment I think the makerspace tubs are the way to go for my library, at least for the time being. I share my library with another school and like to keep my supplies put away in my office when I am not there and when they are not being used. There are plans to split my library and once that happens, I will be able to have a more dedicated space for the makerspace. But for now, tubs will work.
I will also have to decide how the makerspace should be used. Should it be something students use while in library class? Should it be open for students to use anytime? Two out of the four days in my district's four day cycle I teach classes all day and would not be able to have students come to the library for makerspace time, but the other two days are very flexible. I am thinking doing makerspace time, like my open library time, would work. I could even combine the two.
Now I will just have to drum up some donations for supplies. I wish my parents hadn't gotten rid of all mine and my siblings tinker toys, Legos, Duplos, and blocks!
