Digital Media Makerspaces in Libraries: Panel Discussion and Open Forum

With the advent of the digital age, libraries have lost their monopoly as the primary information provider.  Yet, a core mission of libraries and librarianship has become critically important:  equitable access to information, including the guardianship, preservation, and openness of the commons, coupled with education and information literacy as forms of empowerment.  The makerspace movement movement as a resource for content creation is a powerful response by libraries and librarians who face tremendous competition in a sea of digital content providers.
 
This webinar, co-sponsored by ALA Film and Media Round Table and SEFLIN, will take a broad look at digital media makerspaces across library types.  For examples of the digital media makerspace movement, see K-12 school library makerspaces: Mountain View Elementary School, Elgin Elementary, public library makerspaces: Chicago Public Library, Monroe County Public Library, Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity, and academic library makerspaces: University of Washington, NC State University, Washington University, Virginia Commonwealth University. 
 
Four panelists from a broad representation of libraries will discuss issues surrounding makerspaces in libraries, ranging from production to management to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  Of special consideration will be the practical steps towards creating such a space in a library, the effects of a makerspace, who has access to these spaces, and possible future trends.  Many more topics will be addressed.