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INTRODUCTION

Libraries have always been committed to lifelong learning and have reinvented themselves to provide access to ever-evolving tools and materials that promote literacy, from microfiche to the internet to digital fabrication tools. Today, public libraries
across the country are continuing that legacy by offering experiential learning through makespaces, further rooting themselves as valuable community resources.

Considering there are over 9,000 public libraries in the US, the potential impact of offering maker programming is immense, but there’s a misconception about the funding and resources necessary to make this happen. The truth is that you don’t have to be a big city library, and it doesn’t take fancy architects, expensive tools, and million-dollar budgets. At the heart of a sustainable makerspace are the people. And by focusing on your library’s staff and the talents and interests of your community’s patrons, anything is possible.

The challenge is twofold: Many public libraries want to create a makerspace but aren’t quite sure how, and if they do create one, they aren’t sure how to keep it going.

This toolkit is specifically for libraries with limited resources. Perhaps your library:

• Received a 3D printer from a grant but isn’t quite sure what to do with it
• Has always wanted a maker program but doesn’t have enough staff members to run it
• Wants to transform an underutilized area into a makerspace but doesn’t have the funds to do it
• May not have a dedicated space for maker programmingSound familiar? Then this toolkit is for you! Often, the staffing, space, and budget that we think we need become barriers to entry, but there’s a lot you can do with very little. Here we outline an approach to creating and sustaining a maker program in a public library.

This is not a recipe book, but rather proposes a process to follow, stray from, and return to again. Because the process isn’t linear (nor should it be!), there will be bumps in the road and frustrations that occur. This toolkit is about being committed to the long haul and staying strong through the messy and not-so-glamorous parts. The rewards of taking your time and making small changes will lead to big impact in the long run.

The practical tools presented here provide tested, concrete steps toward enhancing
your library’s offerings and relevance to meet the needs of your community. We share these tools, alongside stories of successes and struggles from the 10 libraries in our pilot project, in the hope that they illuminate the possibilities and encourage you to give it a try and to persevere, no matter what your constraints.

Referência: Makers in the Library. (2021). Retrieved 10 November 2021, from https://www.makersinthelibrary.org/