Creating a Makerspace

in the Noble Public Library

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5
HAILEY CARRELL |TRISHA DANIEL | KATHERINE BROOKS ETZKORN
BOBBY REED | REBEKAH SILVERSTEIN

“A library is a place that is a repository of information and gives every citizen equal access to it...
It's a community space. It's a place of safety, a haven from the world.” -Neil Gaiman
NARRATIVE 3
STATEMENT OF NEED 3
Community Background 4
Community Wants 5
PROJECT DESIGN 7
EVALUATION 9
IMPACT 10
PROJECT RESOURCES 12
TIMELINE 12
SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT 14
GENERATING FEEDBACK 14
SURVEY QUESTIONS TO GENERATE IDEAS 14
BUDGET 17
RESOURCES 17
REFERENCES 19

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 2

NARRATIVE

NOBLE PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE:

CREATING A MULTI-USE SPACE FOR COLLABORATION AND INTERGENERATIONAL MAKING

STATEMENT OF NEED

Libraries are catalysts for interdisciplinary partnerships, community connections,

and life-long learning. Anyone can go to the library. They are some the few remaining

free public places. You don’t need anything but a library card to access the resources

within the space. Rural public libraries like Noble Public Library are some of the only

places where people can access the internet and connect with community resources.

70% of students enrolled in Noble public schools are enrolled in the school lunch

program, which provides meals to hungry low-income families. Noble is a rapidly

growing small town, the largest demographic in Noble are middle school aged learners.

Noble Library currently provides the following programs;

● Family literacy programs

● Digital literacy training

● Film club

● Sewing club

● Book club

● Yoga

The Noble library’s community wants to open a makerspace to support their

current programs and entice local experts to foster new programs. A Makerspace is a

place to collaborate. A creative space. A do it yourself place. Makerspaces unlock

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 3
human potential and allow people to connect with their neighbors. All of us are makers

and makerspaces allow makers to share their stories. Makerspaces provide access to

tools, technology, and a community of local; experts, players, learners, crafters,

entrepreneurs, and inventors. Noble wants to create a great space for its citizens to

learn and grow.

Community Background
Noble Oklahoma is the rose rock capital of the world. “This unusually beautiful

rock formation is indigenous to Noble and is symbolic of Noble’s historic past. The Rose

Rock was called the ‘Cherokee Rose’ to commemorate the suffering of the Cherokee

Indians during the great exodus to Oklahoma” (City of Noble, 2017). The city of Noble is

located just south of Norman inside the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The

downtown Noble main-street has a thriving business district consisting of computer

repair shops, hardware, and copy stores to name a few potential collaborators. Once a

bustling depot town, built adjacent to the Sante Fe Railroad and the South Canadian

River; the population of Noble today is just over 6000 residents.

Noble is home to three Elementary Schools, one Middle School, and one High

School. The majority of the students who attend public school are signed up for the

reduced lunch program for low income families. There is STEAM programming within

the school districts, but space is limited. And unfortunately, not all students who wish to

attend are able to. The high school has a robotics team, Noble BearBotics FTC Team,

that is preparing to go to the state championships. Several years ago, the library saw a

great interest in LEGO robotics which has extended into more advanced robotics

(Pederson, 2017).

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 4

 The Noble Public Library is part of the Pioneer Library System, which consists of;

eleven hometown branches, seven information stations, two-24-hour book machines,

plus one electronic book box for user convenience. Pioneer Library also has a mobile

makerspace furnished with mobile STEAM kits, which travel to local schools and

community centers. The main branch also has a large makerspace in Norman.

Across the street from the Noble Library is an Elementary School, and the

Middle School, and High School are both within walking distance. The library’s busiest

times of day are after school lets out and on the weekends. The Noble library is central

to a bustling down-town, schools, and neighborhood streets. The makerspace will be

connected and will grow.

Community Wants
The Noble Public Library currently hosts an active film production club that uses

a portable green screen, community sewing clubs, and computer labs. The library also

has totes available for checkout which promote family literacy (GLAR kits “Grow Like a

Read”), and STEAM education ready for check out. The library has interactive maker

activities on hand, like cardboard creating, Lego’s, and word building games. The

Pioneer Library System does have several STEAM kits that the staff of the Noble Public

Library could utilizes. For this reason, it does not seem necessary to replicate these

offerings as permanent fixtures in the space. Instead, they can be borrowed from the

system as they are needed.

The staff of the Noble Public Library and its patrons have expressed desires to

expand the function of the Ina Byerly Activity Room to bolster the community

engagements mentioned in the paragraph above, as well as no offerings not available

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 5

anywhere else in the Pioneer Library System. These desired offerings include a

multimedia workstation with a full suite of Adobe products and a Cricut station.

The space is as much of a barrier to these desires as are the inherent financial

barriers. Click here to see a scale diorama of the space. In the diorama, many of the

desired offerings are left out, but it still appears slightly overcrowded. It is for this reason

that modular design and portable furniture is very important. Many offerings should be

evaluated for how easily they can be stowed away to minimize their spatial impact.

The Library users can currently schedule time with a librarian to aid users in

research endeavors. The Noble Library staff are generally creative and crafty. Heidi likes

to sew, Mark is into film, Dave wants to engage users in podcasting, and Maureen is into

cricket. The staff would like to enhance the current schedule a librarian service to

encompass all the community experts in scheduling expert service to promote their

making services in the library.

The community has responded well to the clubs and events housed at the Noble

Library and the community and staff want to devote a permanent space to making. The

makerspace will need to have computers with Adobe suite, Video editing software, and

podcasting applications. The space is envisioned to be shared and self-governing. The

film club would like to have a more permanent green screen for video production and

cameras and equipment to be used in the space. Sewing and embroidery machines will

be housed within the space as well. Users are also interested in including laminating

machines, cricut machines, and STEAM kits.

The community dialogue regarding the space is positive. Stakeholders include

library users, such as students, teachers, the business community, and local experts.

The library wants the space to be community monitored and foresee that participation

and activities will be self-monitored. Pioneer Library System procedures will be

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 6
reproduced and modified to meet the specifications that the Noble users need. We

anticipate the makerspace to become a community favorite.

PROJECT DESIGN

The Noble Public Library is a branch of the Pioneer Library System (PLS), which

provides services to Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie Counties. The PLS brand

promise is “Pioneering Tomorrow’s Library,” with a mission statement of “Inspiring

innovation, engagement, and learning in our communities.” PLS provides resources for

all of its branches to pursue this goal with its Maker Mobile and STEAM Kits available for

employee checkout. Branches incorporate these resources into programming and

outreach to local communities.

The Noble Public Library has really taken this mission statement to heart and

currently offers making activities to customers of all ages. With the available PLS

resources, this library is already accustomed to incorporating making projects into their

programming. There is a regular film-editing group that meets at the branch, along with

a sewing group. Because of the success of the programs, the Noble staff hopes to take

an unused space within their library to create an open environment for individuals to

tinker and create in both independent and staff-led projects. The staff hopes to have the

space available to the community during the library’s operating hours, allowing the

community to come in and utilize resources independently, while also allowing

Schedule-a-Librarian appointments for guided sessions, in addition to regular branch

programming. This space will be open to all customers and encourage multi-

generational making.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 7

 According to the United States Census Bureau, the median income for a

household in Noble is $50,739 per year, with 12.4% of the population below the poverty

level. The Noble staff is dedicated to providing resources that the community may not

have access to otherwise. This is one of the driving factors in their decision to create an

open makerspace that offers these resources in a safe, collaborative space.

The space will employ multifunctional furniture which can be moved around the

room to suit the needs of the individuals using the space. Locking cabinets will be used

to store materials which require supervision for safety or because of expense. Our goal

is to maximize the existing resources while expanding upon them to further

opportunities for the community. Because of this, the first step will be looking for chairs

within the library system which are not currently used. The chairs can be painted, if

needed, to create cohesion within the appearance of the space while minimizing cost.

Tables will be able to be folded and moved to the side when needed.

Within the room one wall will be painted green for video production. Another wall

will utilize a chalkboard or whiteboard paint to allow for brainstorming and collaborative

work. The room will be unmanned most of the time unless there is a program or other

special circumstances, but staff will be available as needed for customers. Making

within the space will be process oriented. Individuals will be able to use limited materials

provided by the library or bring their own materials to use.

The Noble Public Library has already received funding for sewing machines.

Simple materials such as scissors, pins, and some thread colors could be easily

supplied. Noble Staff will reach out to the community to accept donations as well to

possibly allow for fabric availability. Equity is a guiding force in the Pioneer Library

System’s mission and it is important to staff that individuals be able to make and

participate, regardless of their ability to purchase their own materials.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 8

EVALUATION
Guiding this project are four intentions: creating greater access to technology, expanding

programming from only facilitator led to include patron led, allowing space for intergenerational

participation, and strengthening community partnerships. For each of these focuses, the library will

measure success with specific goals.

1. Accessibility of Technology

Goal: Library patrons will have access to the Noble Library’s technology 80% of the library’s
operating hours. At present the Noble Library is only able to offer access to their existing
making supplies when a program is in session. Because of staffing constraints, this means

the technology is currently only used a few times a month.This space will allow staff to open

the room even with minimal staff supervision, maximizing the library’s investment.

2. Programming

Goal: STEAM programming will shift from 100% heavily facilitated and product-based to 90%
lightly-facilitated and process-based. With the added freedom of a dedicated STEAM space,
learners will have the time and independence to tinker without strict instruction.

3. Intergenerational making

Goal: Making will shift from focused on one user age range to open for family and community
members to collaborate together. Currently most programming is dictated by age. With the
introduction of open hours, makers will be able to collaborate with all ages, maximizing

community knowledge and allowing for development of new skills through peer mentorship.

4. Community Partnerships:

Goal: The makerspace will provide donated materials for tinkering. Additionally the library will
partner with local businesses and experts to offer assistance at least once per quarter. The
community of Noble has already exhibited their commitment to the library. By inviting them

into the space, the library staff will strengthen that investment while leveraging resources

outside of the library and providing the best possible service to library patrons.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 9

IMPACT
As a member of the Pioneer Library System, the Noble Library and it’s community

has already experienced just some of the wonderful things makerspaces have to offer.

By creating a dedicated space within the Noble Library, the Noble community will be

able to bridge more generation gaps by allowing all generations to collaborate and

make with one another (Fourie and Meyer, 2015, 523). As these generations collaborate

with one another, each person will be able to gather new ideas and experiences. Both

the library and library staff can be confident that they will be bridging this generational

gap by bringing new technology and activities to their community (Long and Applegate,

2017, 180). They will be able to branch out of their comfort zones and learn.

The permanent making space will allow for other various activities that the

Pioneer Library makermobile does not already offer. It is apparent that many libraries,

like the Noble Library, are putting everything they have into bringing something like a

makerspace to their community (Long and Applegate, 2017, 181). They will be centered

more towards the people of Noble’s needs, such as equipment for their film production

club, sewing machines, and sewing supplies. They will also be able to use machines

such as laminating or Cricut machines as well as other STEAM kits. Being a small town,

Noble is a close community, which will benefit the library’s plans for this space being a

self governing space to be shared with all it’s community members.

The Noble Library will be able to extend their services to a much larger audience

by incorporating more maker themed activities. They should anticipate a larger count of

attendance for special events or lessons. They will be able to bridge a generation gap

within the community by bringing all demographics together in one space to collaborate

and learn from one another (Fourie and Meyer, 2015, 523). By accommodating more

people the library staff will be able to use their personal skills to develop new and

exciting programs geared towards maker ideas. Before or after each program the staff
LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 10
members will be able to conduct a short evaluation in order to see if their new programs

will be used in the future, should be tweaked, or should be cut. By asking people for their

feedback, the library staff will be able to determine if these programs are reaching the

individuals of Noble’s needs.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 11

PROJECT RESOURCES
This section of the proposal is meant to be used as an appendix or catalog to help you

shop for vetted materials that fit your budget. There are often several different models

of the same thing. Everything included has been researched and is durable unless

otherwise noted.

TIMELINE
An installation of a permanent space with so many new resources should always be

approached gingerly and thoughtfully. It is for this reason that we suggest starting with

two budget numbers in mind. First, find out what initial investment the Pioneer Library

System and any community partners are willing to contribute for the initial cost of the

space. This would include any remodel to the existing space and purchasing of

resources. Second, it is important that Pioneer considers and then selects an

acceptable “upkeep” budget that they will be capable of maintaining year-in and out.

This will include salary cost, maintaining/replacing equipment, and supplies. Both of

these numbers should be decided upon before resources and goals are firmly

established.

Steps in suggested order:

● Determine amount for first-year budget (one-time)

○ Renovation & Resources

● Determine amount for upkeep budget (yearly)

○ Repairs, replacements, salaries, and supplies.

● Hold a program to get community input on the space

○ See next page.

● Select resources

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 12

● Determine necessary staffing

● Select staff

● Renovate space

● Purchase resources

● Train staff

● Plan first year with staff

● Grand Opening Program/Community Celebration

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 13

SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT

AN OPEN FORUM STYLE PROGRAM FOCUSING AROUND A DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBLE

USE OF THE INA BYERLY ACTIVITY SPACE.

GENERATING FEEDBACK
Noble is a small community. Keeping this in mind, it is integral that the community feel ownership of

the space. One of the easiest ways to ensure this feeling within the community is to seek their opinion

in multiple ways in the planning stages. Below is a suggestion of a town hall style program to

generate ideas for the space.

● Host brainstorming activities, but also include the ability to contribute via an anonymous

submission box at the branch or an electronic form. There are example survey questions

below.

● Multiple example stations with videos, pamphlets, and other examples of what a

MakerSpace can be. Keep them as close to the what Noble can do funding and space wise

as possible.

● Have an activity where they pick resources, but have to come in under budget. Have the

participants share how they have used their budget. If possible, have prizes for most

creative, most frugal, etc.

SURVEY QUESTIONS TO GENERATE IDEAS

● If you could start a project and space and tools were not a barrier what would

you do?

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 14

● What technology would you like try/experience/buy if money was no barrier? (Eg.

3D printers, Virtual reality, Arduino, Makey Makey, coding, Minecraft, Video

games, drones, podcast, ipads, apps,)

● What would you like to learn?

● What would you like to make?

● Would you be interested in learning how a computer runs?

● How to take great photos?

● How to make movies?

● How to sew?

● How to make a robot?

● How to paint?

● How to make bowls and cups?

● How to grow food?

● How to cook healthy food?

● How to write a book?

● What barriers are keeping you from reaching your education goals?

● What is your cultural heritage?

● Do you have family recipes to pass on?

● Do you have crafts to share?

● Would you like to record your own biography?

● Would you like to learn about your past?

● Would you like to start a garden?

● What would you grow?

● What new thing have you learned this year?

● What are you an expert at?

● What are your skills?

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 15
● Could you teach any of your skills to other community members?

● What motivates you to try new things?

● What inspires you think to make and create?

● What have you started and have not finished?

● Could you donate any time? (e.g. teaching, facilitating, making, playing, sharing,

crafting, collaborating)

● Could you donate any supplies?(eg. Legos, dominos, paper, pencils, film, paper,

puzzles, fabric, tools, cardboard, batteries, computers, cameras, soil, seeds,

YOU?)

● What have you made? Built? Created? Performed? collaborated on? Invented?

Spawned? Designed? We want you to share your experience.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 16

BUDGET
Staffing

Without knowing exactly how Noble will want to staff the space, we have decided to

provide examples of the time cost that the space may have on different positions at

Noble and throughout the Pioneer Library System.

Position Time Cost Comments/Notes

Librarian 8 - 10 Hours per week Hosting programming &
General oversight of the
space
IT Professional Under 8 Hours per month Updating and installing
software. Troubleshooting
conflicts between Pioneer
sys image and needed
software.
Security Already present at branch

RESOURCES

General
Item Initial cost Upkeep cost Rationale
$116.56 http://www.chroma
wall.com/blog//diy-
Rosco DigiComp green-screen
HD Digital
Compositing Paint
(Green, 1 Gallon)

Apple iMac $1,799.00 Generally cheaper Considered more

than a PC. user-friendly for
tech editing.
LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 17
Custom PC $799.93 This is a bundle of
COMPUTER
PARTS. This must
still be assembled.
Skill level required is
intermediate, but
everything is plug
and play.
Prebuilt PC $599.99 Not as high-end as
the PC above it, but
will come prebuilt.
Will need a monitor,
keyboard, and
mouse.

Adobe Creative 69.99 Per Month IT Salary costs for 1 license is needed
Suite Per User installs/updates. for every two
computers. (2 seat
(839.88 per year per licenses).
user)
Staff already have
full access to
Lynda.com where
they can receive
training for the
entire suite of
applications.
2 Sewing Machines Purchased with $75 - 100 per year
grant funds. per machine for
“tune-ups.”

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 18

Podcasting

Equipment Cost Uses Durability

Focusrite Scarlett 309.99 Podcasting for up Built to be portable.
18i8 to four people / Good reviews of
Audio tracking reliability
Tascam Mini Studio 199.99 Podcasting for up Tascam has been
US-42 to two people with a reliable for me for
caller via phone aux the last 15 years. It
jack / Audio is also built to be
tracking portable, so that
generally means an
emphasis on
rugged design. The
reviews concur with
this assumption.
Pop Filters >$20 NECESSARY FOR
EVERY SPEAKER
MXL 990 $99 Versatile Fragile
Microphone
Shure Mobile $69 This (or the rode This can also be
Lavalier mic you have) could great for capturing
allow for a third dialog while filming.
microphone using
the Tascam Mini
Studio.
XLR Cables
Audio Technica $79 Podcast / Audio Decent. Rare DOAs,
AT2000 tracking. As long as but that would be
the computer has covered with
plenty of available replacement.
USB power, these
mics can hook up
without needing an
interface.

REFERENCES
“American Fact Finder.” United States Census Bureau. Accessed 6 November 2017.
https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml?src=bkmk
Bakes, Roger. Edmonton Public Library MakerSpace- an Introduction. YouTube, 6:04. 16 June 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARFqF6CtItQ
LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 19
Brady, Tara, Camille Salas, Ayah Nurridin, Walter Rogers, and Mega Subramaniam. 2014.
MakeAbility: Creating Accessible Makerspace Events in a Public Library. Public Library
Quarterly 33(4): 330-347.
BoardDocs. Pioneer Library System Board of Trustees. Accessed 6 December 2017.
https://www.boarddocs.com/ok/plib/Board.nsf/Public.
“cityofnoble.org” City of Noble. Accessed 6 November 2017. http://www.cityofnoble.org
Donohue, Susan K., and Larry G. Richards. "Mini Workshop — P — 12 Engineering Education: Using
Engineering Teaching Kits to Address Student Misconceptions in Science." Frontiers in
Education Conference (FIE), 2011, 2011, F2A-1-2A-4.
Ensign, Todd, Rye, James, Oughton, John, Robertson-Honecker, Jennifer, Scime, Earl, and Smith, M
Cecil. Elementary Educators' Attitudes about the Utility of Educational Robotics and Their
Ability and Intent to Use It with Students, 2017, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
Fourie, Ina, and Anika Meyer. 2015. “What to Make of Makerspaces: Tools and DIY Only Or Is There
An Interconnected Information Resources Space?”. Library Hi Tech 33(4): 519-525.
Howe Community Library. Elementary Makerspaces- Sept. 2015. YouTube, 5:08. 27 September 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELTTUbJQDa4
Kelly, Andrew. 2013. “Why do we need one of those? The role of the public library in creating and
promoting makerspaces.” Australian Library and Information Association.
http://www.alia.org.au/sites/default/files/Kelly%20-%20final.pdf
Klipper, Barbara. "Making Makerspaces Work for Everyone." Children & Libraries: The Journal Of The
Association For Library Service To Children 12(3): 5-6.
Long, Chris Evin, and Rachel Applegate. 2017. “Bridging the Gap in Digital Library Continuing
Education: How Librarians Who Were Not “Born Digital” Are Keeping Up.” Library
Administration & Management 22(4):172-182.
Luhtala, Michelle. Why a Makerspace in the Library. YouTube, 5:39. 6 October 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbj_FtEAEcc
Moorefield-Lang, Heather Michele. (2015). "User agreements and makerspaces: a content analysis.”
New Library World, Vol. 116 Issue: 7/8, pp.358-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/NLW-12-2014-
0144.
Pederson, Jocelyn. (2017). “Robotics team goes to the state contest.” The Transcript. Retrieved
December 1, 2017 from the Noble Public Schools Website.
Real, Brian, John Carlo Bertot, and Paul T. Jaeger. 2014. "Rural Public Libraries and Digital
Inclusion: Issues and Challenges." Information Technology and Libraries (Online) 33 (1): 6-24.
https://search.proquest.com/docview/1512388143?accountid=12964.

Rural Technology Fund. “Makerspaces across rural America.” Retrieved November 10, 2017 from the
Rural Technology Fund website: http://ruraltechfund.org/mara/.
Weis, Dusty. (2017, Oct. 31). Makerspaces Building a Hands-On Workforce Revolution. Retrieved
from https://www.aem.org/news/october-2017/makerspaces-building-a-handson-
workforce-revolution/.

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 20

LIS-5970-980 GROUP 5 NOBLE PROJECT 21