With the winter holidays just around the corner, Makerspace programming is the gift that keeps on giving. Makerspace programming allows children and youth to make gifts for loved ones and appreciate how gifts they receive are made. Whether you serve children and/or youth through a public library, school library, or even a Little Free Library, consider this your 2025 gift guide for Makerspace programming!
Tag: Makerspace
No Tech? No Problem: Poetry as Makerspace #alaac25
If you’re anything like me, you are or have been intimidated by one or the other, or maybe even both: understanding poetry and using makerspaces. On Saturday, a panel of presenters–all picture book writers, poets, and educators–encouraged a room full of public librarians and school library teachers to work with lyrical picture books, novels in verse, and exploratory word play activities in their spaces to foster community connection through (drumroll, please!) poetry.
Advocating for Diversity Through Art Programs
Makerspaces are increasingly popular additions to public library branches, and many youth services departments are adding hands-on art and craft sessions to their calendars. Any arts education in a free and accessible space like a public library is beneficial for children. Studies show that early childhood exposure to art education programs leads to a stronger appreciation towards art later in life, as well as an increased interest in cultural institutions like libraries and museums (Kisida et al., 2018). However, there is an opportunity to do even more than inspire creativity and art appreciation through maker programs. Art programs can be a venue in which to introduce children to diverse cultures and identities by using real artists as inspiration. For many children, public libraries may be their first opportunity to engage with the arts. It is crucial to make sure they feel welcome and included by exposing them to artists who…
Children’s Makerspaces in Public Libraries
In the last several decades, the landscape of public libraries changed from what one might consider a stereotypical book storehouse to an eclectic gathering space not just for materials, but for people. To remain relevant in their communities, public libraries adapted to this shift in focus, working to provide more versatile and technological resources for their community members. One trend in particular that has sprung from this change is the concept of makerspaces. A relatively young concept as far as technology goes, this idea has taken root and managed to establish itself in libraries across the country. It is believed that the concept of “making” was first discussed in 2005, as part of an article in Make – a magazine that published information regarding maker projects. Since then, many libraries have taken the steps to build their own makerspaces filled with different types of technology. At the very least, most…
The Inclusive Makerspace #WeNeedDiverseMakerspaces #alaac18
It’s been another jam-packed, amazing day at the 2018 ALA Conference! This afternoon I attended The Inclusive Makerspace #WeNeedDiverseBooks session led by Gina Seymour, a School Library Media Specialist. She offered some great advice on making your Makerspace or hands on learning activities accessible for a wide variety of youth, including those with disabilities or language barriers. Gina provided many simple tips with big impact, like providing triangular anti-roll crayons, instruction sheets with a visual cue for each step, and printing instructions in both English and Spanish. Other suggestions included labeling all craft materials used in making with not only a word but an image of what is inside. She emphasized how making can promote the 3 E’s: Equity, Education and Excitement. This session made me think of how my library could reassess our own maker-based activities and programming so that everyone can be successful and feel welcome. Thinking of…
#alaac17 MakerLab for everyone
I joined three MakerLab tours -adults, teens, and children- at the Harold Washington Library on Thursday. These are the highlights I want to share with you: The three labs appear to have a different role.
Tips and Tricks for Makerspace – from the TEA Room
When I started at Darien Library eleven months ago I was give the responsibility of managing the TEA Room. I know what you’re thinking, and no, it is not a room where you drink tea. It’s a makerspace that we call the Technology, Engineering, and the Arts Room.