Centering Makers’ Values: An Outcomes Framework for Adult Makers in Public Libraries

Making activities and spaces in public libraries may have started as niche services. But an IMLS-funded National Forum report has documented how they have evolved to become core offerings that advance libraries’ missions through hands-on, community-centered engagement. In this webinar, we will explore a new, research-based outcomes framework you can use to strengthen your libraries’ offerings by providing responsive, inclusive, maker-centered services for adults in your community.

We will begin by providing an overview of the new framework, which was developed through an IMLS-funded research partnership between a university research team and six public libraries of varying sizes and community types across three states. The framework highlights the wide variety of goals and priorities that guide adults’ making in public libraries and reflect their diverse identities and experiences.

Makerspace leaders from two public libraries, one small and one large, will then share their strategies for centering makers and their values, while navigating resource constraints, limited time and staffing, and administrative hurdles. We will offer our experiences supporting adults in pursuing their desired outcomes and refining making activities to better serve community members, including those who have been historically marginalized or excluded from traditional makerspaces.

We will conclude by sharing resources you can use to guide the design, delivery, and evaluation of your libraries’ making activities for adults and to communicate the benefits adults take away.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the variety of outcomes adults seek and achieve through making activities in public libraries;
• Identify strategies for supporting adult makers in pursuing outcomes they prioritize; and
• Use the outcomes framework to develop or enhance inclusive, responsive making activities and services in your library and to communicate the benefits adults take away.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for public library programming staff, makerspace staff, adult services staff, directors and administrators, as well as MLIS faculty and students.

Panelists

Rebecca Teasdale (she/her) is an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research addresses the interplay of values, information, and evidence in the design, delivery, and evaluation of library programs and services, with a particular focus on making and makerspaces. She also provides training and coaching for public libraries to evaluate their programs and services. Rebecca’s background includes more than fifteen years of experience as a public librarian and library administrator. Her work has been supported by IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

Ashley Kazyaka (they/them) is the program manager for Denver (CO) Public Library’s all-ages ideaLAB makerspaces and creative technology programming. They are a founding member of the Colorado Association of Library’s Maker Interest Group, and have experience designing, improving, and evaluating public library makerspaces. They are a crafter, tinkerer, and have a lifelong affliction of “how hard could it possibly be?”

Micah Rademacher (he/him) is the head of adult and technical services at the Blue Island (IL) Public Library. Micah has been a maker for as long as he's been able to hold a pencil or a paintbrush. Though he spends his days employed as a public librarian, he spends his nights painting, printmaking, doing live art at Chicago jazz venues, and writing and performing theatre. His soapbox of choice is “Put the A back into STEAM!”

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