A MAKERSPACE - STORYTELLING THROUGH JEWELLERY MAKING

          Organising a makerspace in the library is such a wide topic that almost any idea seems to be appropriate if it serves the institution’s values and attracts users to better participation. However, to ensure the possibility of the project, available resources must be considered as every library has different possibilities depended of many factors like for example physical space, equipment, finance, people and skills, and accessibility. Therefore, our makerspace was an outcome of connection of addressing client needs investigated in a survey (dlr  Libraries, 2016), applying our skills and using as much of existing resources to save money for ongoing expenses.

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People and Skills

Workshop Facilitator – is a person who has jewellery making skills and provides materials and tools for the manual part of the workshop. Due to difficulty with managing materials and refills, we decided that it will be a self-employed workshop facilitator and an invoice will be provided for each workshop.

Library staff – will be a designated person who will be providing guidance and resources for the workshop and helping patrons to develop their storytelling skills. This person will also be responsible for booking and contact with patrons as well as for ensuring that policy, consent form, and survey is filled in by patrons.

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Finance

          This workshop will be offered free for public and one item made during the workshop will be available to take home. This will include:

1 bracelet or 1 bookmark

15 charms or crystals with fastenings

The invoice for the workshop will be provided by the Workshop Facilitator with an agreed price of 10 euro per person per workshop.

If the patrons agree with the Workshop Facilitator to use more materials it is up to them to agree on the additional cost.

          There is no need for additional equipment as already existing space and equipment in meeting rooms can be used.

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Promotion

          To ensure that this service will be known to the patrons several resources will be used to advertise it online and in the physical space to also reach people who are not internet users. Responsibility for working on advertisement will be on the library , but the Workshop Facilitator will also be using own means to promote it online.

• Photos/ information on the information board in the library

• Library Newsletter (digital and printed version)

• Printed posters and flyers

• Workshop Facebook Page

• Workshop website

• Library website and social media

 

Bibliography:

 

dlr  Libraries. (2016). dlr  Libraries Development Plan 2016 - 2020. Retrieved from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Library Service: Policies and Publications website: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/using-your-library/policies-and-publications