In normal circumstances, the many makerspaces of Stanford University offer tools, resources, supplies, workshops and personal assistance to campus creatives producing art, engineering, textiles and science. But the same personal instruction and shared resources that make Stanford’s makerspaces so practical are, unfortunately, also problematic during the coronavirus pandemic.

Aparna Sharma, operations manager at the Robin Li and Melissa Ma Science Library, making face coverings in her dining room. Sharma is a member of the Masquaraders, an effort led by the Stanford Libraries and the Textile Makerspace to produce face coverings for library staff. (Image credit: Courtesy Aparna Sharma)
“Our space is literally the exact opposite of what you want for a COVID-friendly room: small, airless, no ventilation and it can hold maybe three people with social distancing, which…