Libraries & Maker Culture: A Resource Guide
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    • What Are They?
    • Makerspaces in Libraries
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Makerspaces: What Are They?

Makerspaces--also sometimes called hackerspaces--can be any area where people gather to make and create. These spaces often include 3D printers, but do not necessarily have to. In makerspaces, people share supplies, skills, and ideas, and often work together on projects.

Makerspaces grew out of maker culture--a group of people dedicated to craftsmanship and creation. Makerism focuses on DIY projects, and makers value creation by individuals or small groups rather than bulk production. In general, makerism is also a culture of creation over consumption. 

Many libraries have found that maker culture and makerspaces fit naturally with their existing missions, and have begun to incorporate makerspaces into the services they offer their communities.

Maker Culture

What is Maker Culture? - an article explaining the roots of maker culture

3D Printing and Creative Literacy: Why Maker Culture Benefits Libraries - an essay by me in the ebook Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Information Literacy 
But Were Afraid to Google

Libraries & Makerspaces

MakerBrdge - an online community I founded for everyone interested in makerspaces, especially in libraries and schools

Library Makers Blog from Madison Public Library

Makerspaces, Participatory Learning, and Libraries - a blog post from Buffy Hamilton

The Library as Incubator Project - a project that focuses on collaboration between libraries and artists

Libraries Hope "Maker Spaces" Make a Difference - an article from a Maryland newspaper

Makerspaces and Library Labs Encourage Student Creativity - from the Education Week blog

Makerspaces Move into Academic Libraries - from ACRL's TechConnect blog

Are Makerspaces the Future of Public Libraries? - an article from Shareable

Is It Time to Rebuild & Retool Public Libraries and Make Tech Shops? - an article from MAKE magazine

The Makings of Maker Spaces - article from Library Journal

Makerspaces, 3D Printing, and Libraries - a discussion of 3D printers at public vs. academic libraries from the BeerBrarian blog

Makers on the Move in Libraries and Museums - an article about the Maker Education Initiative from the IMLS blog

Librarians Flock to Maker Monday - an article from American Libraries magazine
​
Planning Your Own Makerspace

Library & School Makerspaces: Where to Start - a blog post I wrote over on MakerBridge, the online community I founded

HOMAGO Essentials - principles used by the YOUmedia network for planning makerspaces

Maker Community Groups and Spaces - resources for creating partnerships with local makerspaces

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  • Home
  • 3D Printing
    • Getting Started
    • How Does it Work?
    • 3D Printing in Use
    • Webinar: 3D Printing in Libraries
  • Makerspaces
    • What Are They?
    • Makerspaces in Libraries
  • Contact