#library makerspace

I’m visiting makerspaces in Hesinki in school, library and more. Last time I visited Mutku makerspace in Arabia school and tomorrow to the Iso Omena library Paja. 

Here is a few links to look into. 

Paja info (facilities and tools) 

An article about the Iso Omena Paja 

LEGO Wall Tutorial

First, a note of thanks: This tutorial (and this wall) would not have been possible without the great post about LEGO walls over at Renovated Learning. 

This wall is the focal point of our new Junior Library makerspace. The completed wall measures 70″ x 70″ and comfortably accommodates five or six students at a time. The students also have access to regular baseplates for building LEGO projects off the wall. 

Supplies needed for this wall:

49 10″ x 10″ LEGO baseplates 

70.5″ x 70.5″ plywood sheet, mounted to the wall

construction adhesive (PL Premium or Liquid Nails)

caulking gun for the adhesive

6 medium LEGO classic creative boxes (or a similar assortment)

Hazel L. Incantalupo MakerSpace at Palm Harbor Library

At the 2015 FLA Conference, I was fortunate to sit in on Kiki and Marisa’s presentation on how to put together a successful Children’s MakerSpace.  The Youth Services Librarians enthusiastically and cleverly promote art with kids fitting this year’s conference theme of “Florida Libraries Inspiring Innovation”. They have graciously allowed me to interview them - Enjoy!!

Christina “Kiki” Durney, Head of Youth Services at the Palm Harbor Library (PHL).

I started my professional life as a reading teacher at a Title 1 school in Hillsborough County. After working closely with the school media specialist for a few years, I realized she had the best job on campus! She got to have all the fun of talking about books with students, helping gifted kids as well as struggling readers find appropriate titles, and doing fun reading themed programs. I enrolled at USF’s School of Library and Information Science program in 2010 focusing on the school media specialist route. While pursuing my masters, I decided to diversify my resume by opting to do my field work at a public library instead of a school media center. After one day in the public library, I was hooked. It had all the freedom, ages, programming opportunities, and reading levels/interests I wanted and none of the silly testing and other mumbo-jumbo affiliated with the public school system. I got my MLIS in Dec of 2012 and got the position of Teen Services Librarian here at PHL in Feb 2013. After only working here for 6 months, the Head of Youth Services position opened (for the first time in 15 plus years) and I got the job! Been doing it ever since.  

Marisa Meale, Youth Services Librarian at Palm Harbor Library

I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of South Florida in 2010.  Upon graduation, I was not sure how I wanted to use my degree.  My boyfriend's mother worked in a library and asked if I would like to consider it.  It sounded like the perfect job for me since I always loved books and reading.  I applied to USF's Library and Information Science program, began volunteering at my local library, and eventually was hired as a Graduate Assistant for the USF program.  After graduation, I worked as a Librarian in Hernando County Public Library System before accepting a Youth Services Librarian job at Palm Harbor Library in September of 2013.

How did you decide to make a Children's MakerSpace?

Kiki: Director, Gene Coppola, and I were the two that made the decision to have an art-themed Children’s MakerSpace. Marisa came on later in the process to advise about which materials would be good for the space and has, of course, been a part of the learning process in which all my staffers have been in on. The creation of the space is kinda my brain child. I did all the conceptual and logistical work for its creation.

MakerSpaces are all the rage currently. Few libraries have them, but all want one. Most library MakerSpaces are intended for adults. Some allow teens and even fewer allow children but usually on a limited basis. We are really big on fulfilling gaps in community services, not creating redundancies. We wanted to provide a unique space for children ages 5-12 that required as little staff attention as possible and was in keeping with our long range plan. It was all these factors combined that lead to an art-themed MakerSpace. Here is a bulleted explanation because that’s how my brain works:

STEM is extremely popular in schools right now. There are lots of robotics teams, coding clubs, and science themed activities for school age children in Pinellas County. So we knew we didn’t want to replicate any of those things.

We don’t have the staff to dedicate to being in the MakerSpace to teach or heavily monitor, so we knew it had to be as self-sustaining as possible. Most MakerSpaces with technological elements require some level of teaching, training, or guidance (particularly for children) that we just don’t have the staff to do.  

Our long range plan includes, “being a cultural center for the arts.”

How does this project support art education in the community?

Marisa: The MakerSpace really gets kids excited about making art and working in mixed media.  They begin to associate the library with a place to use their imaginations not only through books but also through physical creation and experiential learning.  Parents are surprised because they had no idea how passionate their kids were about art, and some parents are not big about promoting it in the home.  So, through our MakerSpace, kids are exposed to different types of materials and the freedom to create their own visions uninhibited by parental instruction.  With the school system's focus on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) initiative, our MakerSpace is the perfect compliment to growing well-rounded individuals who will have an emotional investment in their library.

What additional benefits have you seen?

Kiki: Aside from the obvious benefit of allowing children to explore and experiment through art, I think the best benefit is how this space has changed the community’s perception of the library. Our library is in a residential area and is beloved by many of its families for our exceptional programming and current collections. However, this MakerSpace has changed their perception in that our community sees that we will continue to grow and change with the times. We are on the forefront of what’s cool and new in community services, both within and from outside of libraries. We aren’t afraid to break the mold by doing something that many librarians would consider insane (paint in the same room as the books, are you nuts?!?!). My motto is: never let fear guide you.  

What recommendations do you have for libraries starting their own makerspace?

Marisa: Contact other libraries who have done similar makerspaces to what you intend to create.  Libraries are typically pretty open about sharing resources and helping each other out, so why reinvent the wheel?  Don't be afraid to ask for monetary donations in your community - it's easy to convince people to support arts education.  Also, if you are doing a MakerSpace for the under 12 crowd, consider making a rule sheet and reviewing it every time someone goes in for the first time.  It seems like a lot of work, but it really instills them with a sense of responsibility (we make them clean up their own mess!).  Make sure staff can easily monitor the space, consider whether you want to offer reservations or not, and consider how many people can be served at one time (we serve 4).

What is your favorite aspect of the children's makerspace?

Kiki: This is the toughest question! My favorite aspect is watching how the children collaborate to problem solve or just to help each other. I think learning how to effectively collaborate is a super important skill for their education and their professional life, plus are just cute as buttons while doing it!

Another aspect that just tickles me is seeing one kid being inspired by another kid and emulating her creation. I suppose that’s kinda like indirect collaboration, lol. Kids are learning and experiencing stuff for the first time all the time (something that adults often forget and take for granted). When one kid sees another doing something that totally blows their mind and changes how they now see things, that’s priceless.