Creating Makers: How to Start a Learning Revolution at Your Library

by Megan Egbert

Just because your library is small or limited on funds doesn't mean you can't be part of the maker movement. This book explains that what is really important about the movement is not the space, but the creativity, innovation, and resilience that go along with a successful maker program. All it takes is making some important changes to a library's programs, services, and collections to facilitate the maker mentality in their patrons, and this book shows you how.

The author explains what a maker is, why this movement is important, and how making fits in with educational initiatives such as STEM and STEAM as well as with library service. Her book supplies practical advice for incorporating the principles of the maker movement into library services how to use small spaces or mobile spaces to accommodate maker programs, creating passive maker programs, providing access to making through circulating maker tools, partnering with other organizations, hosting maker faires, and more. Readers will better understand their instructional role in cultivating makers by human-centered design thinking, open source and shared learning, and implementation of an inquiry approach."

124 pages, Paperback

Published July 18, 2016

Reviews

[Alexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I deeply regret not reading this book when it first came out. It is wonderful and perfect for anyone considering makerspaces or finding ways to revitalize the importance of a library in the 21st century.

While I hold some bias because I worked with Megan at the Meridian Library District and consider her a mentor and example of everything I love about libraries, this book is perfect.
It gives the reader a great understanding of what it is to be a maker, what a makerspace can be, and the importance of creating spaces (both physical and mental) for makers in the world and in public libraries. I found myself coming up with new ways to incorporate these ideas and challenges in my daily life, as well as a desire to work with my local public library to create such a space.

I've already recommended this book to several friends that are currently in library school, and the feedback has been similarly positive. Megan creates a place for all to become knowledgeable on the topic without a lot of prior knowledge, and allows that maker mentality to grow!

[Skye Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever had to answer the question--why should we have maker spaces in our library than this book is a gold mine of answers. Treating the subject in an intelligent well-researched way, the reader will find thought provoking rationales that will support whatever form you are using in your library.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A resource for Makerspaces. Discussion the how and why. Doesn't address activities in the Makerspace.

Makes a number of references to the YALSA Making in the library toolkit.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.or...
(the toolkit does have ideas for makerspace activities)

Includes a section on Making and Literacy pg. 23-24
(4/2018)

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a makerspace librarian, I found lots of tidbits of wisdom in this short book! Definitely took notes.

[Anne Egbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I do have to admit to a little bias in this review. My daughter is the author! And of course, I will give it 5 stars just for that alone. But besides that it truly is an interesting book and a great way to look at a different means of learning. Librarians in general, and my daughter in particular, talk about making and makerspaces all the time, and I had no idea what they were talking about until I read this book which explained the whole movement. Well worth reading even if you are not a librarian. It gave me a great deal of information and offered another way to visualize learning for all ages.