Tips from a Makerspace Librarian

   Antonio Apodaca is the Makerspace Librarian for the Ventura County Library. In his article “Makerspace Next”, he presents a manifesto of sorts. His goal is to proactively engage our communities with topics in science, technology, engineering, and math. We want the act of making to be fun and enriching.

   A makerspace is successful if its users feel, know, and act like they can make a real difference in the world around them. Conducting “community needs assessments” is crucial. He recommends small 30 minute focus groups, starting with a small business group and an educator group. He asks them direct and open-ended questions about their experiences and expectations.

   To build mastery, let the students practice. 
Never vary from this formula - makerspace sessions are one-third lecture and two-thirds practice. 
Failure is simply part of the learning process.

   To build autonomy, give the makers the freedom to not only choose the projects they work on, but also how they work on them.

   It can be a challenge to get a makerspace off the ground from scratch. If you are looking to get started, he recommends the book is The Maker Movement Manifesto by Mark Hatch (2013).

Makerspace Next by Antonio Apodaca 

Works Cited

Apodaca, Antonio. "Makerspace Next." CSLA Journal, vol. 40, no. 2, Winter2017, pp. 5-8. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=120994601&site=ehost-live&scope=site.