Digital Media Labs and Maker Spaces

New Roles for the Public Library

Karen HartmanU.S. Embassy, RomeNovember 26, 2012

21st Century ChallengesRapid economic, social and educational

changeParticipatory learningLifelong learningMultidisciplinary approachGovernment funding cuts

Globalization Movement from a manufacturing/factory-based

to a knowledge-based societyTechnological advances

24/7 Access to Internet on handheld devicesDigital design, manufacturing

21st Century Workforce ChangesJobs in a lifetime

• 20th Century: 1-2 • 21st Century: 10-15Job requirement

• 20th Century: Mastery of one field • 21st Century: Simultaneous mastery of many fields

Job competition• 20th Century: Local • 21st Century: Global

Work model • 20th Century: Routine, fact-based • 21st Century: Non-routine; technical; creative; interactive

Educational/Organizational Culture ChangesEducation Model

• 20th Century: Institution centered; formal degree attainment is primary goal• 21st Century: Learner centered; self-directed; lifelong learning is primary goal

Organizational Culture• 20th Century: Top down• 21st Century: Multi-directional (bottom-up, top-down, side-to-side, etc.)

(from: Institute of Museum and Library Services, “Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills”)

Digital Media Labs: Learning PlacesScheduled classes and one-on-one teachingEquipment and softwareVideo productionPhotographyMusic productionWeb site designGame design App designEquipment check-out

Digital Media Lab at Skokie Public Library, Illinois•The lab offers group workshops and one-on-one instruction •Cutting edge equipment for video creation, music recording, and more.•Participants are urged to post their projects on the lab’s website.

YouMedia: http://youmedia.org Digital media center for youthStarted at Chicago Public LibraryDozens more planned throughout U.S. with

funding from MacArthur FoundationHeavily dependent on mentors to help with

projects“Teens learn by making and doing”Based on research at Carnegie Mellon

University

YouMedia ChicagoHarold Washington Public LibraryTeens hanging out and messing around at the YouMedia center in Chicago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRG2Bf-me6k

Maker SpacesCommunity-operated physical places where

people of all ages can meet and work on their projects.

Often referred to as hackerspaces and techshops.

Maker spaces can have 3-D printers, laser cutters, and more.

MIT’s Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) project begun by Dr. Neil Gersonfeld’s course “How to Make Just About Anything.”

Maker spaces help fill the “opportunity gap.”

Tekventure Maker Station at Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana•Tekventure, a non-profit organization, partners with the public library.•The space is in a trailer outside the library.•In addition to a 3-D printer, it also has a CNC router, and many power tools.•Located in a city that is suffering from the economic downturn.

Maker Space in Westport Public Library, Connecticut

The Maker Space opened July 2 as a place for people to connect, invent and create.

3-D Printer at Westport Public Library, Connecticut•3-D printers create computer designed plastic pieces•Can be used for prototyping•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnChn7vtWHU

ArduinoArduino is an open source electronics prototyping platform Based on flexibile, easy-to-use hardware and softwareIt senses the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensorsIt can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors and other actuators.

Arduino Workshop at Allen County Public Library’s Tekventure Maker Station

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUR5NjsR1JQ

The Library is Changing its Focus… from education to learning… from consumption of information to participatory

learning… from institutions to networks*

Connie Yowell, Director of Education, MacArthur Foundaton: “…focus on fostering passion, creativity, innovation, and the skills that are needed to compete and thrive in a global, connected world.”

*MacArthur Foundation, http://macfound.org/reimagine/learning

References“Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills,” Institute

of Museum and Library Services, http://www.imls.gov/about/21stcskills.aspx

YouMedia http://youmedia.orgMacArthur Foundation http://macfound.org“Providing the Tools,” by Meredith Farkas, American

Libraries Magazine, http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/practice/providing-tools

“Content Creation, Media Labs, and Hackerspaces,” by David Lee King, http://www.davidleeking.com/2011/12/15/content-creation-media-labs-and-hackerspaces

“Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out:” Kids Living and Learning with New Media,” by Mikuzko Ito, etal. (free online)

Thank you very much!Karen HartmanHartmankp@state.gov