Libraries are great places for a makerspace. Whether you chose to run pop-up maker sessions, Lego or coding clubs, a Knit and Knatter or preschool reading and making sessions, Maker{Futures} is supporting libraries to get started with making.
"The Maker{Futures} Programme has been so helpful in getting us started on our Makerspace journey, from coming out to one of our libraries to do a hands on making session, to a zoom meeting where she gave us so many ideas we were struggling to scribble them all down!
"It’s great for us to have someone so enthusiastic and inspiring in South Yorkshire to help us encourage science and making activities in our communities."
Judy France
Team Leader, Communities of Interest, Libraries and Neighbourhood Hubs, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Traditional Tales,
Untraditionally Told
Untraditionally Told
We've launched a new project to encourage children and their families to use their home languages in official settings like schools and libraries. To access a host of FREE resources and get started with an adventure in language and making in your library visit the website.
Library Educator Training
A fun, hands-on course where you will work alongside colleagues to develop your maker education practices. This half or full day course is delivered at your library to a team of librarians and other staff and volunteers.
Duration: half or full day
Delivery: Face to face at your library
Cost: From £300
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
Understand what a makerspace is and why it is important for children to develop 21st century skills
Understand how you can set up a range of makerspaces in your library to suit very young children to adults
Use simple materials, tools and electronics to get started with activities
Develop ideas and plans for integrating making with stories
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for libraries wanting to get started with maker activities and makerspaces.
Resources
These resources were developed as part of our previous project on making, MakEY.
Related news
January 2025
We have collaborated with researchers from The University of Sheffield’s School of Education to create a series of maker workshops which give children the chance to use all their languages in libraries or schools.
August 2023
This summer Maker{Futures} visited 12 libraries in and around Sheffield with our ‘Ready, Set, Make!’ family workshops. Inspired by the sport and play themed Summer Reading Challenge, over 300 of you joined us to tinker, test and make in our pop-up library makerspaces.
August 2022
We visited 12 libraries in and around Sheffield with our ‘Gadgets and Gizmos’ events.
