My post last month on Why a Makerspace isn’t a Magic Cure-all for Your Problems gained a lot of notice. I’ve seen a vibrant social media conversation take off since then. I have heard many people say in the conversation about making and libraries that they have reservations. Many are worried about sacrificing literacy or reading when they create a makerspace. They feel that traditional library programs and values will suffer. They worry that the makerspace will replace the reading programs that they love.
But I feel like they’re missing out on something – the beautiful connection that can happen between making and literacy. You don’t have to give up your literature and reading programs when you start a makerspace. Rather, makerspaces can help to bring a new dimension of literacy into your library. There are so many elements and activities in makerspaces that fit perfectly into the types of library programs we all know and love.
Makerspaces can help to bring a new dimension of literacy into your library. Click To Tweet3 Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
In my AASL Knowledge Quest post this month, I go into just a handful of the ways that makerspaces connect to and support literacy. This topic is a new passion of mine, so expect to see more posts on this topic soon. This connection MUST be made clearer if the Maker Movement is to be successful in school libraries. Starting a makerspace is not about replacing a library – it’s about adding a new element, new learning space and new resources to a library. We don’t get rid of all the books to start a makerspace – we engage our students through different learning styles, including how they interact with and respond to books.
Click on over to the post and learn about:
- How makerspaces support informational text
- What tool literacy looks like and how it fits with your library makerspace
- How to develop technological literacy