Content: Community Engagement

Type: Podcast

Length: 1 Hour

Level: Library Professionals

Organisers: School Librarians United

Presenters: Amy Hermon and Diana Rendina

Format: A one hour podcast

Reflection

Objectives: This episode of School Librarians United was about setting up a makerspace in the library. Apart from setting the makerspace up, it also spoke about promoting the makerspace. There was talk about using it as an educational space, and being able to use the research that goes into setting up the makerspace to promote reading and research. There was also a brief mention of the general public wanting librarians to read every book they have for loan, and how that is unrealistic, but how reading reviews and citing these reviews is enough to cover this, which I found fascinating.

Reasons for attending: I attended this one as my current workplace doesn’t have a makerspace in the library. The school has 3d printers and virtual reality, but that is separate from the library in a very nearby classroom, so I was fascinated by any possibility of integrating the two, and building a close relationship with the teachers in charge of these spaces to facilitate collaboration.

Relation to studies and learning outcomes: The podcast started by speaking a lot about reading advisory and promoting literacy amongst students. It also spoke about the concept of a ‘third space’, which I covered in my tafe course before my bachelors degree, and how this school library functions as a third space separate from the school classrooms and the home. I learnt about this as a theory called ‘learning space design theory’, which was discussed by the guest, Diana, in regards to the book she wrote featuring it. The podcast also spoke about treating the space from an academic point of view and treating it like an anthropologist. This ties in with concepts of user experiences and analyzing user needs.

Future Uses: The information on makerspaces was useful and interesting, but from this I took more from the concepts behind setting up the makerspace; the third space and the anthropology analogy resonated the most with me. In the future I will be observing the students, and other users of future workplaces, and tailoring the area to better fit not only their needs, but their habits.

Evidence: Screenshot during podcast

Screenshot during podcast

Link: https://schoollibrariansunited.libsyn.com/183-makerspace-and-library-space-7622-617-pm