The Green Makerspace

A big component of this blog is to highlight the ways in which materials can be reused and recycled. These are important concepts in educating your users about sustainability! After all, those two R words take up two-thirds of that common adage: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!  (Moondance, 2021)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) says that one of the most effective way to reduce waste, and therefore greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, is to not create it in the first place. Reusing and reducing are one way to accomplish this. By maintaining and repairing products, you are reducing the rate at which replacements need to be made and preventing waste ( EPA, 2023 ).  This leads me to a discussion about what I might say is the fourth R: Repair.  Mending Libraries, Fix-It Clinics, and Repair C afés : One way to encourage reuse and recycling through your makerspace is to host a repair  café  or fix-it clinic. These events bring p...

Introduction: It's the first post!  For the most part, this blog operates under the assumption that the reader has already established plans for a makerspace, has one started, or is at least familiar with the concept! There are certainly many websites and blogs dedicated to helping you begin adding a makerspace to your library. Two excellent starting points include the  Ultimate Makerspace Guide for Schools and Libraries  from Makerspaces.com and the  How to Start a Makerspace Guide  from Demco. These guides are a great jumping off point to get your makerspace off the ground.  In addition to the above guides, here are a few tips: Acquiring Supplies: Upcycling projects are an excellent way to use up old materials and objects and give them new life! What could be greener than recycling? When it comes to preparing for upcycling projects that require consumables such as paper towel rolls, empty water bottles, fabric scraps, etc., I recommend turning to your use...