New community spaces in the library - Makerspace

Abstract

The rapid change of info-communication technology and the resulting impact on the world of work and society in general have also influenced the operation of libraries. One of the latest demands libraries have to face is functioning as sites of preparation for the use of info-communication technologies. On the whole society must be prepared to meet the expectations of the labour market changed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution while the cultural paradigm shift taking place in the educational sphere calls for instruction methodologies meeting the needs of the alpha generation. The Makerspace movement provides a solution to both challenges while developing cognitive and cooperative competences in a creative way. Libraries are ideal for applying and propagating the Makerspace method. Since the application of this approach is in the beginning stage in Hungary, it is important to support measures promoting its introduction in the library sphere. We hope to contribute to the realization of this goal as, in addition to describing specific methodological approaches pertaining to the basic features and devices of the Makerspace model, we will also introduce the results of the analysis of a large sample questionnaire survey administered to library managers in Hungary. The inquiry focused among others on the current availability of equipment and the respective human resources and the propagation and application of the makerspace lab methodology.