Tinkerspace: Library Learning Commons

Bailey, Rachel
ET

Doorley, R. Tinkerspace: Library learning commons [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://tinkerlab.com/maker-space-library-learning-commons/.

Summary
     This blog post highlights an elementary school library that embraces the MakerSpace movement. Before being set loose in the MakerSpace environment, all classes are required to have an orientation about how to use the space. Once this is established, children may come into the library and tinker with a plethora of stations such as mask making, origami, sewing, paper airplane folding, etc. Each station showcases books about the topic as well as materials so the students may begin creating. Students are encouraged to come up with topics for the tinker stations. Additionally, much of the materials for the MakerSpace are donated from the community and the students themselves.
     When a student goes to the MakerSpace area, he is to take one of the library timers to keep track of his time. He then works independently and creates! If he has a question, he must collaborate with other students around him as the librarian is usually teaching a class or helping to check out books. When the student is finished, he must clean up his work area and fill out an "exit ticket" that is reflective of  his experience.

Evaluation
     I thought this article was helpful. Much of the literature I read talks about the importance of having a MakerSpace in the library, but it doesn't tell how to implement it. I also like how this article talks about the type of materials used in the MakerSpace as well student expectations in the space. The only concern I had was that this library has a rather large space to work with. What about school libraries that have a limited amount of space? How can the Maker movement be implemented in these types of spaces?