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Makerspaces in the School Library

Updated: Jan 16, 2020

Dear Dr. Laura


I’m new, but want to be able to do innovative things in my library. I’ve got so many things to figure out as I get started. Is it possible to have a makerspace when I’m so new?


Signed,

Am I a Maker?


Hi, Maker Librarian


The answer is, YES! You can offer makerspaces in your library. There are so many mays librarians offer makerspace opportunities. Here’s a few ideas as you get started!


Fixed Schedule

  • Block out time monthly/weekly/quarterly in your lesson plan schedule for makerspace activities that are a planned part of your library lessons.

  • Have a makerspace station/center/activity set up the students can use when they visit your library.

  • Have a makerspace station/center/activity set up for students to visit with a hall pass from their classroom teacher when they are not in the library.

  • Block a day on your calendar, for example the last Friday of the month, where teachers sign-up to bring their classes in for a maker activity that you and the teacher co-manage.


Flexible Schedule

  • Allow teachers to sign-up to bring their class to your library to use your makerspace area/resources as part of their class time.

  • Allow students to come in during class time to work independently in your makerspace.

  • Block a day on your calendar, for example the last Friday of the month, where teachers sign-up to bring their classes in for a maker activity that you and the teacher co-manage.


Other Ideas

  • Read up on novel engineering. Help your teachers plan makerspace activities where students integrate engineering and literacy to do things like build a prototype that would help a character in the story. Students use “engineering design challenges that help them identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process while reinforcing their literacy skills.”

  • Partner with a teacher on their next research project. Co-plan a makerspace activity to culminate the students’ research in lieu of a standard research paper.

  • Consider offering makerspace days as rewards for meeting classroom/grade level reading goals, behavior incentives, or other types of incentives.


Do you need help to justify having a makerspace in your library? Demco shared this article in 2018. https://ideas.demco.com/blog/5-reasons-makerspaces-belong-in-school-libraries/


Do you need some background knowledge on makerspaces? https://www.makerspaces.com/makerspace-guide-school-and-library/


Where can you get makerspace resources using your school budget? Be sure to use an approved vendor or find a sole source. Two national companies who are on many districts’ approved vendor lists are:


I’d love to see pictures from your makerspace area! Use the hashtag #LibrarianInfluencers so we can all see!


Dr. Laura


Librarian Influencers of the Week: Colleen Graves, the first person to ever teach me about makerspaces!

Colleen’s Twitter: @gravescolleen https://twitter.com/gravescolleen

Colleen’s Website: https://colleengraves.org

Colleen’s Makerspace Books: https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-Graves/e/B01LY3EZHE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1563543118&sr=8-1


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