Making - It's Not Just a 3D Printer

Editor's Notes

• #2: Introductions (if this is not done for us?) “Hi, I’m Sue Considine, I’m the Executive Director at Fayetteville Free Library and President of the newest NYLA Roundtable, the Making and STEAM Roundtable or MSRT. Our library is located in Central New York, and in 2011 we were named by Forbes as the first public library to create a makerspace.” “Hi, I’m Leah Kraus, I’m the Director of Community Engagement and Experience at Fayetteville Free Library and president-elect of MSRT. “Hi, I’m Mike Cimino….
• #3: Sue: Welcome to the first webinar put on by MSRT – NYLA’s newest roundtable focused on making and STEAM learning. This roundtable was started to allow NYS libraries to connect and share knowledge about Making and STEAM across all library types and to all types of library staff.  There is so much innovation and inspired activity happening in libraries right now, and we think it’s a critical time to connect, share, and inspire one another as we move in new directions. You can join MSRT for just $5 when added to an existing NYLA membership. Go to NYLA.org and click on Roundtables to join today!
• #4: Sue: We wanted to start by sharing some Save the Dates our next webinars.
• #5: Leah: So before we jump in here, let’s start by addressing the idea and concept of Making. What does it mean exactly? It’s kind of a broad term. Clearly, there is a lot of buzz around the idea of making and makerspaces --a lot of libraries are seeking to open makerspaces, to develop maker classes, clubs and programs at their libraries. But when we say “making and makerspaces in libraries,” what are we really talking about? What makes something “making?”
• #6: In our conversations with others in our field, we’ve noticed kind of a trend around what people think making is, and what people think is needed to make. For instance, last fall at NYLA Anuual, we were able to talk to many people across NYS about making during the first annual NYLA Maker Showcase. If you weren’t able to make the conference, our library, and other school and public libraries in New York State were able to display some examples of things going on in their libraries around making – some of the innovations that were happening and ways the community was getting involved. We were able to connect with many people who were in various stages of bringing making into their libraries or beginning to investigate the idea. In many of our conversations there, as well as during many of our other speaking engagements or when people come to our library for tours, we’ve noticed sort of a trend, where there is an impression that making is all about a 3D printer. The mindset seems to be, “if we could just get our hands on a 3D printer, boy, the things we could do. But unfortunately, we just don’t have the money for it. We’ve applied for a grant to get one, but we’re waiting on that to come through. Or, geeze, we’d love to bring a 3D printer into our library, but we just don’t have a place to put it. Or, we just don’t have anyone on staff who would know how to use it.” So what this basically results in is a mentally where we’re hearing from many people, “Well, we think what you’re doing at your library with making and your makerspaces is really cool, but unfortunately, it’s just not something we can do” for one of the reasons on this slide here. So today, we wanted to try to present a new approach and resolve that mentality. We want to put forward the message that while having a 3D printer can be great and can allow your community members to do some really cool things, it is not necessary to bring making into your library. Likewise, a big dedicated space is not necessary. A money tree in the backyard is not necessary and really does not exist for anyone. Even without a dream staff full of young tech savvy individuals, you can still do it! You can find ways to bring making into your library and more importantly, the outcomes associated with making, even if these barriers exist.
• #7: While it’s true that there are certain tools and technologies that are associated with the maker movement, we’re here to suggest that making is really more of a mindset. It is a stance towards learning. In the words of Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary S. Stager, “The Maker Movement overlaps with the natural inclinations of children and the power of learning by doing.” It is about using your hands, getting creative, being curious, discovering how the things around us work, and developing new solutions without fear of failure. It is about pursuing your passions, trying new things, learning new skills, and diving further into your existing skills and interests. It is about combining creativity with hands-on skills in order to make something new. It is about seeking to understand how the things around us work. It is about the power of “We” - the idea that, combined, our community knows how to do and can do almost anything! Making is all about sharing, and connecting people –connecting the people that know with the people that want to know, or connecting the people that know one thing with those that know a complementary thing, or connecting the person with the idea to the person who knows to how to bring the idea into fruition.
• #8: Here is a great graphic representation of making from the 2013 World MakerFaire by David Gauntlett and Mitch Resnick that I think sums up making very well.
• #9: Here is another great graphic representation of what it means to be a maker taken from a French blog – you can find the image citations at the end. I love how this presents makers. “I learn by making things” “I take risks and learn from failed attempts” “I keep trying even when I get stuck” “I take my work seriously without taking myself seriously” “I am comfortable not knowing” “I share my creations and processes with other people” “I find and build communities where everyone is welcome”
• #10: So for us, we’re trying obvioulsy to debunk some making myths and present what WE think are some making truths. We believe that making in libraries can take many different forms. Making can happen, to put it simply, whenever inspiration, innovation and education meet. We think these are the crucial components of making, rather than a 3D printer or laser cutter.
• #11: We think that for making to happen at your library, what DOES need to happen is for the community to serve as the inspiration. Libraries seeking to make should set up systems by which community members can: Inspire the action and Inspire one another – where they are the ones shaping and leading the libraries’ programs, services and spaces Libraries seeking to make should also seek to support community members in both getting inspired to dive deeper into existing passions, and getting inspired to learn something new As a result of making, you’ll see that community members are inspiring the next generation – you’ll see retirees coming forward to share their time and expertise with young people, and conversely, you’ll see teens and young people stepping forward to lead classes and clubs and share what THEY know and are good at.
• #12: To bring making into your library, another critical piece is innovation. Yes, this can mean bringing in innovative new technologies, but it also means setting up programs, services and spaces that encourage community members to create and innovate instead of just consume, to learn the mindset of innovators, and to that encourage new connections that allow for innovation to happen. As a result, when making is happening at your library, what you’ll see is that community members are developing innovative new solutions.
• #13: Finally, to bring making into your library, it’s also all about rethinking our approach to education. Again, we need to set up opportunities for our community members to be the educators. They know so much more than we know about so many things! As library staff members, we are limited in our knowledge, but when we invite the community to become the teachers, the educational possibilities are endless. We need to rethink our support of literacy skills. Making, really, is ultimately a means to support the development of STEM and 21st century literacy skills in our communities, and we know that in our modern world, these literacies are just as critical to lifelong success as traditional literacy skills. So when we think about making in terms of this educational piece, it really allows us to recognize that its not just a passing fad or something that we can ignore. Finally, what is truly critical to making in libraries is to create opportunities for community members to experience hands-on learning, and skills-building by DOING.
• #14: We identified making as a part of our mission in 2011 – started with a student idea Did not start out with a dedicated space – Maker Open Houses in Community Room Did not follow a guidebook Started with programs utilizing our existing space and resources Jumped in, took small/manageable steps, saw the outcomes, kept moving forward The idea to bring maker culture into our library began as a student idea in 2011. We had a strong inherent understanding of our community and the value they placed on education – as most communities do! We felt that they would embrace access to unique hands-on learning opportunities that they did not have access to elsewhere. Before investing a huge amount of time and resources into developing a makerspace, we began by testing the idea and community support by hosting Maker Open Houses once a month on Saturdays. During these maker open houses, would feature many hands-on making activities, like Take a Part electronics, duck tape art, and more. We did get 1 Makerbot 3D printer donated from a local print & copy company, and we’d roll that out on a small cart into our Community Room meeting space. Hundreds of people came from the local community and from miles around. This huge response, combined with interactions with community members, confirmed that we were moving in the right direction. In our conversations, we had a lightbulb moment. We started taking business cards of people who were saying “oh my gosh, I am so excited by what’s going on here, I want to be a part of it, I want to help with it, I know about sewing, I’d love to teach a class, etc.” We realized that there are so many talented, passionate people in our community who want to connect with others around their areas of passion, and who want to share their skills – not just around 3D printing but around all types of hands-on skills.
• #15: Recognizing this potential and willingness within our community, we began to make a targeted effort to invite community members to share what their passionate about and what they know – to get involved and engaged in deeply meaningful ways. We developed a new community engagement tool that we now feature in our public spaces and use to capture informal conversations. This form serves as our new volunteer application. When we’re chatting with someone who says, “I’m so interested in what’s going on here, I would love to get involved– I myself am a robotics enthusiast,” we use this tool to capture their enthusiasm and to provide them the platform to get involved. Instead of our old volunteer model where we slotted people into rolls we had identified a need for, we now invite the community to come to us with their ideas, interests and passions. We open up the library as a platform on which they can share their ideas and expertise and make meaningful connections. The tool asks: 1) What do you love to do, 2) What are you passionate about? And 3) Would you be willing to share what you know with your community members? This tool is being used daily in our library and has parlayed into a new, booming volunteer base, as well as informing us about the kinds of things our community members are interested in.
• #16: One of the pieces of feedback starting a competitive club, librarians becoming coaches, taking on new and meaningful roles and mentors and educators, led us to rethink our programming – instead of paying for performers, invite
• #18: Community members inspired to share what they know with others – they love to sew and are passionate about it, want to come together with others who share their passion, as well as teach beginners skills that will last a lifetime. In addition, they want to sew altruistically.
• #23: In one innovative take on the makerspace concept, CPL launched Tech Central, a music recording and production lab. Some of the innovative programs they run out of this space include creating and editing music with the use of KORG synthesizers, Guitars, keyboards and mbox interface software.
• #24: Another example of a public libraries innovative makerspace can be found at Westport Public library in Connecticut. Since its opening in Summer 2012, the makerspace has evolved with the interest and passions of its community as well as funding from a IMLS grant. Patrons at Westport can find numerous maker events and activities happening throughout the week. Another great example of community members sharing and educating others is exhibited in Westport’s maker in Residence program. These Makers in Residence host making programs for patrons focused around the Resident maker’s field of expertise. In addition, westport has taken inspiration from the Women in STEM intitiative and developed a girls Robotic club.
• #25: incarnations of makerspaces can be found around the nation in Academic libraries . At Virginia's, University of Mary Washington Think Lab, students and faculty can learn how to use a variety of emerging technologies. What you may find interesting is the that thinklab was not created for engineering students but instead developed as a collaboration of the school’s Division of teaching and learning technologies, the College of education and the library. Makerbots and Mashups is one of their popular making programs…..
• #26: In another innovative take on the makerspace concept…Valdosta State University in Georgia focuses on “making” in terms of computer network systems.
• #27: At the University of Nevada DeLaMare library, students, faculty and greater Nevada community have access to 3d printers, CAD software, laser and vinyl cutting . Novices can receive help from the universities Tech Wranglers who provide consultations on all the making equipment in the lab for free.
• #30: Embrace the idea of thinking outside the box, trying something new, learning by doing, not being afraid to fail. Instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios, take a step forward, even if a small one! Ask, what are the opportunities? What goals and outcomes do we want to achieve through making? You may come up with new and different maker spaces, programs, and services that meet the needs of your community!
• #32: One-on-ones