What is a Makerspace and what are we planning for the NUI Galway version?

Makers + Space = Makerspace

Connell Cunningham – James Hardiman Library – NUI Galway

What is a Makerspace?

• Hackerspace – wikipedia says also referred to as–hacklab, makerspace or hackspace

• Makerspace seen as safer than Hackerspace• A place where mostly informal learning takes place• Hands on learning by doing – failure is allowed• Prototyping – Rapid prototyping - Make it, Break it, Make it• It has a community aspect to it – users helping other users

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Why in an academic library?

• Teaching – Research – Group Work – Practice (Makerspace)• History of shared resources in libraries• Better to share expensive equipment• Goal of getting students “Workplace ready”

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“In practice, they are not.”“In theory, theory and practice are the same.”

- Albert Einstein

What others are doing?

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Steps so far

Approval – Idea was put forward within the library Funding – Student Projects Fund + Library Funding + Sponsorship

Space – Very visible area in library Foyer

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What to include?

• What do others have?

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Time for a survey

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Be Realistic!

What can we have?

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What can we afford? What can we manage?

How to manage the service?

It’s a space where users can ––Print – albeit in 3D–Borrow items–Access software not readily available elsewhere–Engage in group learning by doing–Be part of a community for support

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Hopefully it’s clearer nowThank you for listening

Makers + Space = Makerspace

Connell Cunningham – James Hardiman Library – NUI Galway