Library makerspaces in China: A comparison of public, academic, and school libraries

Abstract

This exploratory study identified and compared the organization, services, challenges of and motivations for makerspaces in public, academic, and school libraries in China. Although there is a significant body of literature on makerspaces in libraries, this study is one of the first ones that provides a comparison of library makerspace organization and operation by library type. Data was collected using paper and online surveys from 158 librarians. Supporting learning was the most frequently identified motivation for establishing a makerspace by all three categories of librarians. While makerspaces in academic libraries were mostly operated by library staff, school libraries more evenly relied on teaching staff, volunteers, library staff members, and paid instructors to operate their makerspaces. Makerspaces in public and academic libraries were funded mostly from the libraries’ budget, while school libraries were funded more by other units on the campus and institutional or individual investments. The most frequently selected technologies were 3D printing and modeling technologies, and makerspaces in academic libraries were better equipped than makerspaces in the other two types of libraries. Group study rooms and learning commons centers were the most frequently occurring physical spaces in academic and public library makerspaces. School library makerspaces differentiated themselves by offering wooden crafts centers more often than other library makerspaces. While participants selecting budget limitation and inadequate equipment as barriers to implementing makerspaces was not surprising, public and academic librarians also often cited the lack of professional instructors. Based on the findings, several suggestions were offered to the practice of planning and operating a makerspace in libraries such as bringing together internal and external funding to support makerspaces, consolidating the required physical space of makerspaces and the existing space arrangement of libraries, and developing additional training programs to address the problem of a lack of professional instructors.

Library café or elsewhere: usage of study space by different majors under contemporary technological environment

“…Multimedia equipment and various type of software become available in the library (Huang and Wang, 2021). Makerspaces are also established in some libraries or learning commons to allow users to create objects with new technologies such as 3D printing (Cao et al , 2020). While librarians are planning to implement learning commons in their libraries, different aspects of the space planning, such as the size of printed collection, integration with new technologies and proportion of quiet study and collaborative space are needed to consider to satisfy the changing demands of patrons (Blummer and Kenton, 2017; DeFrain and Hong, 2020; Huang and Wang, 2021; Pierard and Bordeianu, 2016).…”

Laboratorium Perpustakaan Pertanian: Layanan Makerspace Pusat Perpustakaan dan Penyebaran Teknologi Pertanian

“…Inovasi layanan perpustakaan tersebut merupakan layanan makerspace. Makerspace adalah ruang/tempat berkumpulnya pemustaka untuk berbagi pengetahuan untuk bersama-sama mengerjakan suatu proyek atau menciptakan suatu produk (Cao, Wu, & Stvilia, 2020). Layanan makerspace menjadikan perpustakaan tidak hanya sebagai tempat pengelola pengetahuan namun menjadi laboratorium ide atau gagasan dalam berkreativitas dan membangun inovasi sehingga masyarakat lebih berdaya.…”

Knowledge-based society and emerging disciplines: a correlation of academic performance

“…As modern research depends entirely on fresh literature, and because of limited budgets, the need to subscribe to new journals for academic research purposes has begun to challenge management. The role of the modern library is not only to promote student learning, but also to protect and promote people’s access to various important cultural values, and actively strive to expand the scope of participation beyond traditional readers (Cao et al , 2020). At the same time, academic libraries need to provide opportunities to make important contributions to the cultural sustainable development agenda.…”