Growing a Greener Makerspace

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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 users! In my experience working at a public library, patrons are more than happy to donate their excess household items and recyclables. Put up a donation box with a sign and post a request for the item(s) you are looking for on your chosen social media platform. If you ask, you shall receive. For other items (tape, glue, scissors, and other simple tools), it certainly can't hurt to request donations. Again, people do like to feel helpful. Otherwise, yard sales and thrift stores can be gold mines, depending on what you need. Even your own school or library building might have a collection of potentially useful items which have been forgotten or slated for the trash bin. If those options don't work, or just aren't sustainable, these items might be purchased at a discount from your local hardware store or other community businesses. And be sure to thank your donors, even if it's just in the form of a blanket social media post featuring a photo of all the donated supplies. People love to see the impact their generosity has made. 

Types of Supplies:

The kinds of supplies you might want to consider for your makerspace do not have to break the budget. A low-tech makerspace can still be an effective makerspace that invites collaboration, creation, and learning. Just check out this post by high school librarian Kelsey Bogan to see why! If you want to encourage a crafting atmosphere with simple supplies that can be easily donated, here are a few ideas (note, when I say "consumables," I am referring to items that can only be used once, a limited number of times, or that will likely be taken home with the user):

Recycled/Upcycled Consumables: 
  • Bottle caps; broken tech parts
  • Cardboard; corks from wine bottles
  • Discarded printer cartridges
  • Empty egg cartons; empty paper towel rolls; empty tissue boxes; empty water bottles
  • Leftover fabric, string, thread, yarn, wrapping paper, etc
  • Old board game components (dice, game pieces, puzzle pieces, spinners, etc.); old toys
Non-Recycled Consumables (that you might still occasionally find yourself wishing you had on hand): 
  • Aluminum foil
  • Bags (paper, plastic sandwich/zip-close); batteries; beads; bolts; brass fasteners
  • Clothespins; coffee filters; cotton balls; cotton ear swabs; crayons; cupcake liners 
  • Fabric and other various material; foam
  • Glue
  • Markers
  • Nuts (the hardware kind, not the edible kind!)
  • Paper clips; Paper plates; pencils; pipe cleaners; plastic cups; plastic spoons
  • Rubber bands
  • Safety pins; screws; sponges; stickers; string; stuffing or batting
  • Tape (electrical, duct, masking, painter's, scotch, etc); thread; toothpicks; twist ties
  • Washers; wooden craft sticks
  • Yarn
Other Tools: 
  • Binder clips
  • Clamps; crochet hooks
  • Hammers; hole punchers
  • Needles
  • Paper cutters; pliers
  • Sandpaper; screwdrivers; scissors; staplers
  • Tape measures
  • Vices
  • Wire; wire cutters; wrenches

Funding:

If you need to purchase materials for your makerspace, and find yourself short on cash, there are options for finding some money. These are but just a few:

Conclusion:

I hope this wasn't overwhelming! I've provided a lot of general information in this post that can help lead you towards developing a makerspace, but I've also made efforts to include tips that will begin to direct you towards a greener ethos. In later posts I will dive into even more sustainable and "green" makerspace practices and ideas. 

Until then,
Rachelle




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