School Library Makerspaces in Action

As promised by the title, this manual brings together stories of individual school librarians who are utilizing makerspaces in a variety of settings and for a variety of audiences. Going beyond computer lab coding classes or high school robotics clubs, these scenarios describe individual journeys of implementing makerspaces, often from scratch. The content represents early elementary, middle, or upper grade experiences as well as contacts with teachers, administrators, special education students, English language learners, and public libraries—both bringing public library sources into classrooms and sharing efforts at public library sites. Part of the appeal is hearing a fresh voice in every entry, as well as enjoying the adventures as readers learn along with narrators, covering topics such as finding time, space, and materials; helpful hints such as how to woo constituents; establishing—and in some cases, abandoning—rules and regulations; results; and future plans. It's easy to find inspiration within these pages, whether reading cover to cover or dipping in for targeted articles. Rounded out with resources for further exploration—especially the blogs—this is an appealing choice for library instructors, students, and professional collections.