2020-06-19 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 5, Issue 10

Featured Story

Don’t Give Up on Low Tech in Makerspaces

In today’s libraries, whether it is a school library, an academic library, a public library, or “other”, you will find a variety of things, both old and new. Even the smallest libraries will have everything from the tried and true print and audiovisual artifacts to new technologies such as 3D printers, tablets, and WiFi. While there is a place, and most certainly great love, for both the old and the new, sometimes it seems like we are too quick to take an “out with the old and in with the new” approach to the items in our collections, especially when it comes to programming for our digital natives. Will children, preteens, and teens even show up if there aren’t new tech gadgets and a makerspace to attract them? What if you are a new librarian and want to bring more makerspace activities to your library, but you aren’t sure where to start?

Do not be intimidated by the makerspace movement. When I was a new school librarian, I let myself get frustrated because I wasn’t even sure how to start creating a makerspace in my library. I was hung up on the idea that I needed to have tech, but knew there wasn’t any budget to buy robots and 3D printers. Since then I have learned that makerspaces are flexible and dynamic. They vary in size and content, and there is no one right way to build a makerspace. The maker movement is built on a foundation of hands on learning through building things. If you have ever offered programming that did that, then you created a makerspace. While many makerspaces can have digital tools, smaller libraries, especially school libraries, can give their patrons opportunities to build and create outside the digital realm. By offering makerspace activities that don’t rely heavily on tech and digital tools, you can engage your younger patrons’ interest while giving them opportunities to practice 21st century skills.

If you are looking to add makerspace activities, start by seeing what is available in the dark recesses of your library. Check through your storage rooms. Schools in particular can have amazing things that have been forgotten in storage, such as models of the human body or microscopes that no one uses anymore. Relics such as these can be fascinating to students. There may also be old and broken electronics that students can take apart, or puzzles that can be put together. You might even find equipment that is still very much useful. Recently, I found a button maker and a whole box of supplies which we have already made plans to use. Who knows what treasures await you?

You can also get great ideas by visiting other libraries with makerspaces. Even if you can’t get there physically, a search on the internet will show you what other libraries are doing with makerspaces and what activities that they include that use little or no tech. If literal space is not available to you, keep your makerspace items on a cart, and bring it out only during certain times of the day. There are also many libraries online that have great suggestions for when there is little or no space available for your makerspace.

As interest in your makerspace builds, use that interest to justify a small budget for your library’s makerspace. However, before jumping to the 3D printer consider remaining in the low tech realm. Lego or KNEX building kits are relatively inexpensive but still extremely popular. If you want to go a little more high tech, look at adding an Ozobot or two.

Don’t be afraid to keep your makerspace low tech. I have seen as much excitement over our low tech button maker as I have with a 3D printer. Makerspaces can be fun and engaging, no matter how many tech toys you have.

– Gretchen Perkins, Caldwell School District

Fail Forward

We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.

Mermaids: The Body Found

In 2012, I was flipping through channels on my cable television trying to find something interesting to watch. I headed to the documentary channels, my favorites, and immediately, “Mermaids – The Body Found” caught my eye. Now, I’d watched “The Little Mermaid” on repeat from 1992-1994, so of course, I was ready to see the evidence that mermaids were real. I plopped down, and immediately was drawn in. The evidence was all there! Of course! The ocean is mostly unexplored, so there absolutely could be mermaids! And of course there’s a mysterious government agency involved in covering it up! It followed all of the stylistic choices I’d gotten used to seeing on the Discovery Channel, and this made it all the more trustworthy. An hour in, and it had me, hook, line, and sinker.

Until – the mermaids weren’t as pretty as I wanted them to be. Logically, I know that if there were aquatic humans, they wouldn’t look like Ariel, but the image they showed with fins on the face jarred me out of my confirmation bias, and I decided to look up the government agency from the documentary. Fake. And then, the fantasy came crumbling back down.

I was so upset at being had, that I turned off the TV, and never finished the documentary. I wish I could say that was the last time I fell victim to misinformation, but I have to tell you, I also tried to find the songs from Daisy Jones and the Six on Spotify.

So what did I learn from these experiences? I’m a lot less likely to check multiple sources when something confirms what I want to believe. Now that I’m aware of that, I can check myself on it. When I see something on Facebook that gets me nodding my head in agreement or outraged at something, I make myself check the source, and then find another source and another perspective.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaids:_The_Body_Found

– Alex Johnatakis, Caldwell Public Library

Crush Corner

Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!

Stanley Community Library

Today I’m totally crushing on the Stanley Community Library. They are always providing amazing programs for all ages! They have had everything from Books, Burgers, and Brews Book Discussions, to Cardboard Challengers and Family Craft nights. They also share pictures of their beautiful display cases on Facebook for everyone to enjoy. Check them out at their website or Facebook Page!

– Mike Sloan, Nampa Public Library

SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org

SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-00-19-0013-19). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.