A makerspace is a do it yourself (DIY) place for people to create, learn and invent independently or collaboratively. The popularity of makerspaces have been on the rise for several years. It seems like a number of makerspaces have been popping up all over America following the establishment of the Fayetteville (New York) Free Library Makerspace in 2011. However, the general idea is centuries old. Today makerspace workshops are equipped with a wide variety of tools and resources for DIY projects. Often they serve as incubators for technology and engineering ventures, but can also provide resources for craftier businesses and individuals.
Libraries are natural venues for makerspaces as they already provide a shared space for learning and creating. Some early libraries in North America were established by sewing, knitting or quilting groups such as the Gowanda (New York) Free…