Terrific Makerspace Projects - (Practical Guides for Librarians) by Juan Denzer & Sharona Ginsberg (Paperback)

About the Book

Step-by-step instructions to guide you through exciting projects for makers of all skill levels. As a bonus, find useful info on how to customize and use these projects for outreach and promotion of your makerspace, your library, or your institution.

Book Synopsis

Terrific Makerspace Projects: A Practical Guide for Librarians features fifteen customizable projects that were designed as projects created by librarians/makerspace facilitators, rather than projects in which librarians guided others (makerspace users). These projects were showcased during library events with the goal of promoting the makerspace, as well as other library services, while using them to build connections both within and external to the library.

This book outlines maker projects in detail and provides plenty of photos and resources so readers can recreate, customize, and implement them. People at all skill levels in every type of makerspace will find something they can try, with projects that range from simple and low-tech to more complex and tech-heavy. Most projects are inexpensive, taking advantage of free online tools, upcycled or repurposed materials, and low cost electronics such as Arduinos.

Each project can be approached as an offering for makerspace visitors or can be created by library employees themselves as tools to engage in outreach and promote the makerspace, library services, the institution, and more. Every project has been created and tested in a real library setting by the authors, who present lessons learned, possible variations, and different ideas on how to implement the projects to their fullest extent. Explore the idea of using the makerspace to highlight the value of other library services, or simply find new and fun ways to engage with your users.

The book also offers suggestions on how to be a great maker, and tips on makerspace safety, finding low-cost materials, and more.

Whether you're just beginning your makerspace or looking for fresh ideas for your established space, this book has something to offer.

Review Quotes

Ready to take your maker skills to the next level and host interactive events, displays, and experiences on a budget? Denzer and Ginsberg share tips for creating 3D-printed swag pens, escape room scavenger hunts, digital photo booths, and developing your maker mindset. You'll gain the confidence and skills to delight library visitors.

Terrific Makerspace Projects is a great resource, sharing with the reader a range of different makerspace project ideas that are designed to be reproducible and customisable, all of which were created and implemented by the authors in an actual library setting. Recommended for makerspace libraries and librarians.

Juan & Sharona have delivered, with a capital D, a much needed makerspace project book aimed at academic libraries. These brilliant projects can be used and adapted by anyone and that's the beauty of them. This book is a must for your makerspace library!

Juan Denzer and Sharona Ginsberg have created a great guide for libraries who are looking for example projects to try out for themselves. From beginner to experienced, makers of all levels will find projects to jump into.

New scalable project ideas, clearly described with room allowed for creativity. Developing just one or two of the suggestions in this book will turn the heads of both your patrons and administrations.

Sometimes the most difficult thing about running a Makerspace is figuring out how to build your personal skills and promote the space. This book has a number of ideas to help you do both! The projects are achievable, but also give excuses to learn practical skills from Arduino to using actual tools.

About the Author

Juan Denzer is Engineering and Computer Sciences Librarian at Syracuse University. He is a graduate of Binghamton University with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a master's degree in Library and Information Science at Buffalo University. He is the author of Digital Collections and Exhibits and has contributed to Escape Rooms and Other Immersive Experiences in the Library and 63 Ready-to-Use Maker Projects. He has presented at Computers in Libraries, IDS Project, and Internet Librarian. He was also invited to speak at the ELI EDUCAUSE Annual Meeting for his work with the Leap Motion device and Rare Books.

Sharona Ginsberg is Head of Terrapin Learning Commons at the University of Maryland. She was a 2015 recipient of the Library Journal Movers & Shakers award for her work on MakerBridge--a website and blog devoted to the maker movement in libraries and schools--has presented at numerous conferences including ALA Annual and the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces, and has been invited to speak on the topic of makerspace in libraries. She has recently published chapters in The Makerspace Librarian's Sourcebook and Creative Instructional Design: Practical Applications for Librarians.