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:
Follett https://www.follettlearning.com/books-materials/learn/makerspace-school-library
MakerMaven https://www.makermaven.net/
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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