Creating Makers: How to Start a Learning Revolution at Your Library

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This book shows you how, even with a tight budget and limited space, you can foster "maker mentality" in your library and help patrons reap the learning benefits of makingwith or without a makerspace. Just because your library is small or limited on funds doesn't mean you can't be part of the maker movement. This book explains that what is really important about the movement is not the space, but the creativity, innovation, and resilience that go along with a successful maker program. All it takes is making some important changes to a library's programs, services, and collections to facilitate the maker mentality in their patrons, and this book shows you how. The author explains what a maker is, why this movement is important, and how making fits in with educational initiatives such as STEM and STEAM as well as with library service. Her book supplies practical advice for incorporating the principles of the maker movement into library serviceshow to use small spaces or mobile spaces to accommodate maker programs, creating passive maker programs, providing access to making through circulating maker tools, partnering with other organizations, hosting maker faires, and more. Readers will better understand their instructional role in cultivating makers by human-centered design thinking, open source and shared learning, and implementation of an inquiry approach.

Reviews

This text provides a balance between well-thought-out and researched support for makerspaces as well as practical ideas to help librarians through the hurdles of beginning one. . . . This text is a worthwhile resource for any library considering starting a learning revolution. * Booklist Online *
Egbert has written one of the best informational texts about makerspaces and the maker movement that this reviewer has read, largely due to her focus on creating makers, not just spaces. This should be the first resource librarians read when determining how to get started with makerspaces. Also, those librarians seeking justification for a makerspace, either with regard to budget or facility, will find ample research examples of how a maker mentality and fostering a learner's curiosity support learning and literacy. Regardless of age or level of experience or education, librarians will find a fresh and insightful perspective of maker culture in this book. * VOYA *

Author Bio

Megan Egbert is district programs manager, Meridian Library District, ID.