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Makerspace Proposal

The document proposes creating a makerspace at the Tiny Town Library. It would provide tools and equipment for hands-on learning that many patrons could not afford otherwise. A makerspace would allow patrons to experiment, tinker, and develop skills that could benefit them in their careers and daily lives. The proposal suggests converting an unused conference room by clearing out unused materials and storing project supplies. A makerspace fits with the library's role in providing learning opportunities and helping patrons learn to use new technologies.

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333 views

Makerspace Proposal

The document proposes creating a makerspace at the Tiny Town Library. It would provide tools and equipment for hands-on learning that many patrons could not afford otherwise. A makerspace would allow patrons to experiment, tinker, and develop skills that could benefit them in their careers and daily lives. The proposal suggests converting an unused conference room by clearing out unused materials and storing project supplies. A makerspace fits with the library's role in providing learning opportunities and helping patrons learn to use new technologies.

Uploaded by

api-380257976
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 4

June Poteat

Professors Harlow and Sands

LIS 688 Learning and Makerspaces

June 28, 2017

To: Tiny Town Library Board

Proposal: A Tiny Town Library Makerspace

The Swiss philosopher Jean Paiget developed the constructivist theory that asserts that

we construct knowledge based on our personal experiences. Experiences are created by

people and things we encounter. Creating a Makerspace will provide a more effective,

interesting, and fun way to explore ideas as we construct knowledge through hands on

experience. It will promote cognitive thinking and ways to collaborate with peers while

offering access and training to 21st century tools. Since we live in a rural area we find

many patrons are struggling financially. The Makerspace would be a place with tools that

they could not afford at home. The training they receive from our library will help them

become more competitive in their career fields and enhance their lives.

Definition of a Makerspace:

A Makerspace is basically an area carved out in our library where fascinating learning

can occur through activities that require putting things together or taking them apart. It is

a space to explore ideas and learn to design things using special tools such as a recording

booth, a 3D printer or wearable conductor thread. It encourages learning by doing. It is a

way to teach about new technologies and to help patrons acquire skills that will greatly
benefit them in both their home and work lives. In the article; The State of Library

Makerspaces, F. Wang explains that a Makerspace; encourages playful learning,

knowledge sharing, creative thinking, social interaction, informal mentoring, and

community collaboration and support. (Wang, F., pg.3)

Purpose/Objectives

1. To provide a space and offer special tools that not many patrons could not afford

on their own. A space that entices patrons to rediscover the wonders of learning.

2. An area for them to experiment, tinker, and explore.

3. To help patrons develop skills that could be valuable in the workplace

4. To offer training from qualified staff that will help our explorers understand how to

design and create from their imaginations

How We Build It:

Creating a Makerspace will require some needed weeding out of the old unused materials

to make room for our Makerspace. There is a conference room in the back of Tiny Town

Library that is rarely used for a conference. It has a long table that is large enough for

several people to either stand or sit while working on their projects. We can purchase

plastic containers from Lowes to store project materials. They can be kept neatly in the

large closet in the conference room when not in use. There are many new tools available

for purchase that teach things such as electronics or how to design a thing. Overall it is

about making something out of nothing. In The Philosophy of Educational Makerspaces-

Part 1 of Making an Educational Makerspace, R. S. Kurti explains that; it is important


that students are attracted to the space and we can do this by inviting curiosity, inspiring

wonder, encouraging playfulness, and celebrating unique solutions. (Kurti et al. p. 10).

Why the Library:

The library is synonymous with learning. It is a place where patrons can go who are

searching for answers to questions. Our ways of learning have become more fluid with

computers, 3D printers, and various other teaching tools that will benefit our patrons

throughout their lives. Moorefield-Lang points out in the article Change in the Making:

Makerspaces and the Ever-Changing Landscape of Libraries, So its a question of does

information go to your library to die or does it go there to take on new life? (Moorefield-

Lang, pg. 110)

Benefits:

In her article; Three Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren't Exclusive Diana Rendina

says; "Literacy is more than just words its understanding how things work and how

to use them. Our students may be phenomenal at citing resources and creating five

paragraph essays. But do they know how to sew on a button? Or the difference

between a straight and Phillips screwdriver? Or the basics of how a circuit is shorted?

We seek to improve our community and society at large by developing a better educated

society. People are experiencing stress and anguish when trying to learn how to use new

technology. With a well-trained staff; we can explain how to put technology of the 21st

century to better use, how to sew a quilt, or create a story book character from a 3D

printer. Makerspaces provide a fascinating place that encourages learning through

exploration.
References

Kurti, R. Steven., Kurti, Debby L., & Fleming, Laura (June 01, 2014). The Philosophy of

Educational Makerspaces. Teacher Librarian, 41, 5.

Moorefield-Lang, H. (January 01, 2015). Change in the Making: Makerspaces and the

Ever-Changing Landscape of Libraries. Tech Trends Washington Dc-, 59, 3, 107-112.

Rendina, D. (2017). 3 Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren't Mutually

Exclusive. Knowledgequest.aasl.org. Retrieved 29 June 2017, from

http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/3-reasons-making-literacy-arent-mutually-exclusive/

Stager, G. (2014). What's the Maker Movement and Why Should I Care? Scholastic

Administrator. pp. 1-5.

Wang, F., Wang, W., Wilson, S., & Ahmed, N. (2016). The State of Library

Makerspaces. International Journal of Librarianship, 1(1), 2-16

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