About The Makerspace
Here at the Makerspace, we aim to cultivate lifelong learning in the community by offering access to tools, resources, and equipment for skills development. We provide an open, inclusive space where individuals have the freedom to learn through experimentation.
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Let's break that down.
The Public Library
As an initiative within the city's public library system, the Makerspace strives to advance the mission of the public library through three core tenets.
1) Service
2) Community
3) Environment
Provide free and equitable access to tools, technology, software, resources, and services to its community members.
Serve the diverse needs of its community by providing versatile offerings across all demographics and interests, and constantly adapting to evolving technological needs.
Create an inclusive, comfortable environment to ask questions, cultivate curiosity, embrace learning, and alleviate intimidation through a free, open-use model.
The Maker Model
The Makerspace model emphasizes hands-on experimentation as the primary method of learning. It focuses on practical skills development to facilitate a deeply engaging learning process.
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Through research and observed patron experiences,
Hands-on experiential learning allows patrons to:
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cultivate problem-solving skills
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overcome challenges
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troubleshoot technologies
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learn from failures
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appreciate the learning process
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alleviate fear associated with trying new things
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develop confidence in one's abilities
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The freedom in self-directed learning encourages individuals to freely explore various tools and techniques, which in turn sparks curiosity. This motivates individuals to pursue projects driven by their own passions, which promotes the excitement and fun at the heart of making.
Skills-Building
The Makerspace plays a key role in developing both soft and hard transferable skillsets that are invaluable for learners of all ages.
Through its hands-on, self-learning model, the Makerspace promotes the development of lifelong skills and positive learning attitudes such as:
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Creativity
Curiosity
Intuition
Initiative
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Collaboration
Socialization
Openness to New Experiences
The Makerspace's technology-focused offerings also promote digital literacy amongst patrons. The hands-on intimate engagement with software, electronics, and digital equipment cultivates a comfortability with technology, which is essential in today's increasingly digital society.