Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation

by Katy B. Mathuews, Daniel J. Harper

Overview

Moving beyond simplistic equipment lists, this book provides contextual and practical information to help academic library personnel learn how to plan, collaborate, and sustain relevant makerspaces positioned within the broader ecology of campus innovation.

The makerspace movement within academic libraries has largely focused on providing space and equipment for making. Academic libraries, however, have a unique opportunity to push beyond the 3D printer to create makerspaces that complement the broader ecology of innovation happening on campus.

Intended for academic library personnel, this book is for those seeking guidance on how to establish a makerspace that is more than an equipment room. Katy Mathuews and Daniel Harper provide important context for the maker movement, a review of the process of making, and an overview of the various types of makerspaces, including the hub-and-spoke model, the centralized model, and the mobile makerspace.

Additionally, the book provides practical steps to consider, including situating the academic library makerspace within the campus environment, creating valuable collaborations on campus, finding innovative ways to support the entire making process, programming, curriculum planning, and sustaining daily operations such as staffing, funding, and public service.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440872068
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/29/2020
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Katy B. Mathuews is the Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet, USA.

Daniel Harper, MID, PhD, is assistant professor of interior architecture at Ohio University.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part 1 Understanding Making and Makerspaces

1 Making, Makerspaces, and the Academic Library 3

2 Design Thinking and the Organization of Making and Makerspaces 19

3 Planning and Design Considerations for Making and Makerspaces 47

Part 2 Strategies for the Library Makerspace and Broader Campus Initiatives

4 Programming and Curriculum for Your Makerspace 83

5 Advocating for Your Makerspace 111

6 Assessing Your Makerspace 133

Conclusion 163

Index 165

What People are Saying About This

Thomas F. Sens

"Through valuable insights, Academic Library Makerspaces becomes a comprehensive resource offering context for makerspaces that extend the library’s value by providing an inclusive third space that promotes collaboration and ideation through making. Effective design thinking and practical planning considerations, along with an overview of the array of makerspace types, are shared to provide practical guidance for designing and implementing a successful makerspace. Katy Mathuews and Daniel Harper benchmark numerous makerspaces in their research, and the examples presented in this book provide a sound foundation for those who share an interest in creating, managing, operating, programming, marketing, and sustaining a thriving makerspace environment within their academic library and integrating making as part of the broader academic mission."

John J. Burke

“Mathuews's and Harper’s book provides an outstanding guide for connecting academic library makerspaces to the curriculum, to student success, and to communities. They offer practical advice on building and sustaining support for the makerspace within the institution and a bibliography to help libraries create a collection of sources to inspire creativity among students and faculty members. Their inclusion of model makerspaces alongside coherent descriptions of key making concepts will motivate academic librarians to pursue the creation of makerspaces and succeed in these efforts.”

Lynnette Bush Clouse

"A great resource for university libraries looking to incorporate a makerspace into their facility. Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation is a comprehensive study of many types of makerspaces integrated into university campuses. This book will be a useful tool to provide faculty and staff instructions on how to navigate through this complex process of decision making, planning, and implementing the makerspace to meet universities' specific requirements. In addition, the use of support documentation and additional readings provides concrete resources to help orient the team and gives valuable advice to move forward in this exciting endeavor."