Call for Applications: Help Shape the Field of Maker Programming in Libraries
Are you a leader in library maker programs?
Join us to help build a national Collective of library professionals who support one another to develop and deliver community-centered maker programs. Apply today!
We are looking for 6-7 libraries to serve as Charter Members to help lay the foundation for the Collective, and take a leadership role in the project. The libraries chosen will have their profile raised in the field and be featured on both the Makers in the Library and Nation of Makers websites. They will also be at the forefront of leading the direction the field takes on library makerspaces and help decide the priorities for this Collective, the questions we address, and the ways we learn and grow together. Charter Members will receive a stipend for committing to:
Create systems and processes for how the Collective will be run such as: shaping the mission/vision, fostering communication channels, building systems to grow the membership, etc.
Alert Collective leaders to important issues that arise in the field and help to lead activities (e.g., a survey of the field) to learn how libraries have modified services during the pandemic.
Serve as a mentor for other libraries to help build their capacity to create community-centered maker programming.
Project Goals
To form a diverse Collective of libraries and library professionals who support one another and share resources, and together build new knowledge in service of community-centric maker programs.
Identify tools, resources, and strategies from library makerspace adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic and update the Makers in the Library Toolkit to reflect the new face of library makerspaces.
Share best practices and professional development opportunities so other libraries can begin the process of developing a community-centered makerspace with the added support of the Collective and reach new, diverse audiences.
The Collective will primarily serve libraries that may have been overlooked by the maker community, including small, rural, and those serving high needs communities. This project’s overarching goal is to give voice to libraries that may not feel they have the resources to undertake the building of a maker program and to encourage, support, and elevate the work of library staff that may feel excluded from the larger Maker Movement.
Want to know more?
Project staff will be running two live informational sessions on Zoom to tell you more about the project and answer any questions you may have. Please join us on either:
Wednesday, October 27 @ 9 am PST - View the Recording on YouTube
Friday, November 5 @ 9 am PST - View the Recording on YouTube
Timeline
Applications due by Nov. 15, 2021
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Nov 18, 2021!
Interviews with finalists will take place the weeks of Nov. 29 - Dec. 10, 2021
Announcements will be made no later than Dec. 20, 2021
Link to Online Application
Download Information Sheet with FAQs and Applications Questions Preview
Join the conversation!
If you would like to engage with our group right away or feel that being a Charter Member isn’t right for you and your library, we still welcome you to our community! We will be working with the Charter Members in forming the Collective in the upcoming months, but in the meantime, there are a few ways to stay engaged with us:
Sign up for Makers in the Library newsletter
Join the Makers in the Library Facebook group
Email us a request to Join the Nation of Makers Library Working Group Slack channel
