Conference Paper/Case Study: “Creating Space: The Impacts of Spatial Arrangements in Public Library Makerspaces”

The following paper will be presented at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2016 taking place August 3-19, 2016 in Columbus, OH.
Title
Creating Space: The Impacts of Spatial Arrangements in Public Library Makerspaces
Author
Shannon Crawford Barniskis
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Source
IFLA.org
Abstract

This multi-site ethnographic case study examines the spatial arrangements of three public library makerspaces. These spaces are participatory social and spatial arrangements aimed at least in part at creating physical or digital objects, which are open for the free use of all library patrons, irrespective of the types of workshops, tools, staffing, materials created, or location. Library creative places shape the possible actions and experiences of those using them through policy and practice, including the planning and implementation of spatial arrangements. Power relations are often invisibly embedded in the affordances intentionally or unintentionally designed into the spaces.
This study examines these spatial arrangements and inquires how users and library personnel describe the impacts of the space. It details how three makerspaces in public libraries serve their communities in novel ways, and offers transferable, praxis-based recommendations for spatial arrangements which reflect equitably-shared power relations among the library-as-institution, the library personnel, and the users. Furthermore, it describes how users co-construct their libraries through their hands-on making activities, helping to redefine what libraries are and librarians do.

Direct to Full Text Paper (10 pages; PDF)
Some of the Other IFLA 2016 Papers We’ve Shared on infoDOCKET
More to Come

• “Make New Friends, But Keep The Old: Introducing Digital Innovation Services at the Toronto Public Library”

• “Looking for the Impact of Open Access on Interlibrary Loan”

• “Strategic Technology Strengthens the Capacity Of Libraries To Serve Their Communities”

• “Altmetrics in Social Sciences and Humanities: Possibilities, Challenges, and Experiences”

• “Can We Use Altmetrics at the Institutional Level? A Case Study Analysing the Coverage by Research Areas of Four Spanish Universities”

• “A Case Study of Metadata Creation in the University of North Texas Libraries’ Digital Collections”

• “DOREMUS : Connecting Sources, Enriching Catalogues and User Experience” (at National Library of France)”

• “Connecting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Schools and Public Libraries through Information Services”

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