Makers with a Cause: Creative Service Projects for Library Youth

Gina Seymour has done an excellent job of distilling why and how to add service learning and service projects as integral elements to your school/public library's makerspace, be it a dedicated space, mobile/cart, or pop-up event. Divided into two sections, she opens with background about makerspaces and how they help students develop entrepreneurial skills and empathy. Additionally, she addresses the importance of learning from failure. She presents strong arguments for offering these types of opportunities for disadvantaged populations, English language learners, and students with disabilities. She offers suggestions for setting up a makerspace, stresses the importance for partnering/communicating/collaborating with outside organizations, and gives guidance on how to seek outside financial support. The second section of the book offers solid programming ideas, grouped by projects for animal shelters, the homeless and hungry, health and wellness, government organizations and NGOs, and global organizations. A few of the suggested activities assume the presenter has requisite skills to teach those skills to a group (using a 3D printer, braiding, crocheting, etc.), while a couple others are vague; however, the vast majority are clear, detailed, and meaningful. For most projects, she offers relevant dates to undertake a given project, materials needed, instructions on how to implement, and cautionary considerations. Occasional black-and-white photographs illustrate some of the finished projects and help break up the text. The appendices include templates for communicating with potential partners, a calendar of dates to help flow the year, and a list of national organizations to consider contacting. Well-conceived and executed, this tool would be helpful not only to those starting out setting up a makerspace, but also for those seeking to take theirs to the next level. Bibliography.Index.