1. makeitatyourlibrary.org
Vicki Rakowski
Head of Youth Services
La Grange Public Library
@vickirakowski
Amy Killebrew
UX/Emerging Technologies Librarian
Columbia College Chicago Library
@amykillebrew
Elizabeth Ludemann
Emerging Technologies Librarian
Morton Grove Public Library
@ElizaLu
@MakeItLib
Katy Hite
Adult Services Librarian
Worthington Libraries
@strugglemuffles
4. ● Common ground
o creativity, resource-sharing, community outreach,
empowerment
● New model for libraries: content creation
● Maker community brings enthusiasm and
knowledge
● Bring in new patrons
● It’s fun. Did we mention it’s fun?
Libraries + Maker Movement?
10. ● Came together for the 2013 ILEAD USA Cohort
(Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply and Discover),
and IMLS funded grant
● Connected with Travis Good, of Make Magazine and
advocate for the Maker Movement
MI@YL: A History
11. ● Instructables had the content
● We had the librarian perspective
● ILEAD had the resources
Partnership with Instructables
24. When It Doesn’t Go Perfectly
The Paper Record Player Story
This one works This one doesn’t
25. ● Set goals
● Start small
● Start with what you know, OR...
● Learn it yourself first
● Embrace the spirit of experimentation
● Don’t overthink it
● Partner with makers in your community
● Product should be exciting to the audience
Best Practices
28. Instructables Build Night
● Free maker materials
● Host an event
● Experiment
● Contribute to
Instructables.com
● Now open to libraries!
Psst! Ask us how to get software from Autodesk.
29. Activity ReadyLibrary Maker Resources
● Library Makers Google Group/email list
o Other librarians can often be the best resource
● MakerBridge
o U of Michigan site has blog posts, interviews, tool reviews, forums, & more
● Maker Faires and Mini Maker Faires
o Great way for libraries to get involved beyond the library scene
● YALSA’s Making in the Library Toolkit
o Great overview of concepts with examples
● Makey Makey
o Projects, products, instructions
● The Maker Map
o Find a community of makers near you to possibly partner with and visit
● Mt. Elliott Makerspace: Getting Started
o How to List of budgeting, space and policy needs
30. Shout Out
⅕ of the MI@YL team could not join us at OTFL:
Allison Parker
Youth/Young Adult Services Librarian
Northlake Public Library District
@skitterypigeon
Thank you so much for having us here today. We actually got our start in Springfield through ILEAD USA. We were a part of last year’s cohort, and our main idea was to bring maker culture to libraries -- there are so many ways to take part of that world, no matter what resources you’re working with or what kind of population uses your library.
Katy
First, what is the maker movement?
It’s an evolving concept, that can include some of the following...
Katy
innovation = making things better
social = engaging with materials and tools and others
Amy
Why should we care? Why should libraries get involved? Is this just the latest trend, or is this of lasting value and relevance? We would make the argument that yes, this is important, and it’s not as hard as it looks to get on board.
Libraries and makers share many common principles - creativity, resource-sharing, community outreach, empowerment. It’s a natural fit.
New model for libraries: we need to provide opportunities for people to truly engage in their libraries through content creation. We don’t want to replace traditional content consumption (i.e., circulation) - these two library models can (and do) coexist already, as we’ll see in a few slides...
Makers are already awesome. They by and large want to share knowledge, be supportive, and engage with their communities. We should be their #1 partner in crime.
Finding ways to implement the maker movement at your library on even the most simple of ways will help engage your community in new ways. The maker movement is still defining itself and this is our opportunity to have a role in that definition.
Amy
What are some examples, from some of our dream spaces to what is practical for most libraries.
Amy
the kind of space you think of when someone says “makerspace”
focused on adults
host regular workshops that are free and open to the public (even those w/o CPL cards)
they described themselves as an intro to more traditional makerspaces like pumping station one in Chicago or TechShop (around the country)
Amy
Their philosophy is keeping the space fluid. infusion of traditional crafts and new technology. Heavier art focus.
Amy
participatory space
community
experiment
ownership
Amy
No dedicated space.
take home kits
Vicki
Vicki
We found a developer who could utilize the API - shout out to Sean!
Liz
We indexed instructables for librarians
Search
tags, full text
tools/space, age, cost, time per project
Liz
Adapted from Travis Good.
Liz
Activity Ready: No serious tools, no committed space, one-sitting project
A one-off activity that can be done in a multi-use space and often using traditional library materials or arts and crafts materials. These types of projects are already found in many libraries.
Liz
recurring group
Project Group Ready: No serious tools, no committed space, recurring meeting
An ongoing meetup - like sewing groups, robotics groups, linux groups - that meet in a multi-use space. May not often create final projects, but they do use the library space.
Liz
Temporary Tool Ready: Pack-away tools, no committed space
Projects that can be made with a reusable or replenish-able kit and/or using tools that can be packed away after the project is completed; for example, electronics kits, arduino kits, soldering irons, sewing machines, etc. Rarely seen in libraries today, but an area of great potential.
Liz
Temporary Tool Ready: Pack-away tools, no committed space
Projects that can be made with a reusable or replenish-able kit and/or using tools that can be packed away after the project is completed; for example, electronics kits, arduino kits, soldering irons, sewing machines, etc. Rarely seen in libraries today, but an area of great potential.
Liz
Clean Tool Ready: Committed clean tools in a committed space
A dedicated space for making has been established in the library and the space has dedicated clean tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, egg bots, etc.
Liz
Dirty Tool Ready: Committed dirty tools in a committed space
A dedicated space for making that offers tools like saws, large drills, etc. which are dirty and noisy. Only one library has this kind of space right now - Allen County Public Library.
Katy
no space, but wanted to experiment with making
(Katy: Materials for Shrinky Dinks - Talk to Vicki)
Liz
no space, but wanted to experiment with making (Liz?)
Dollar Store items can make this
OR--get kits (more conducive to running actual program)
Liz
no space, but wanted to experiment with making
Vicki
This was actually a project I did with adults. Normally, I’m youth services all the way but my old library asked if I could come in and do this project as something special. (Because I had ONCE worked with duct tape -- what the heck? I’m game.)
A simple concept - explain how it works
We tried it. Doesn’t work.
Katy
Here are a few things that we have found helpful when implementing maker projects, and things we’ve heard from others. We consider this a good set of guidelines when working toward a maker project or movement in your own space.
From Megan Clark at New Braunfels Public Library:
Don’t feel like you have to know everything. You have just as much to learn from patrons as they do from you.
Have safety policies/standards.
Have clear descriptions so people know what to expect when signing up.
