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Introduction
This study has been carried out to start exploring how learning is achieved in makerspaces, and how these largely self-directed learning environments can be effectively supported by academic library services within a higher education (HE) context. In the United Kingdom (UK), makerspaces are an emerging phenomenon with some UK universities, such as Cardiff, Falmouth, Strathclyde, Kent and University College London (UCL), having developed these technology-based community workspaces (but not within the library service). This initial exploratory research piece incorporates a literature review of contemporary research on makerspaces, an interpretation of data from the life-worlds of a small sample of professionals working in academic library services in the USA, which host and support makerspaces, and a hermeneutic discussion incorporating the thoughts and insights of relevant educationalists and philosophers to try to understand the potential of this emerging phenomenon better. The two key research questions used in the literature review and original research are pertinent to HE academic library services in the UK and elsewhere that may be considering getting involved in running a makerspace, and should also be of interest to educators of all kinds and library services outside of HE:RQ1.
How is learning achieved and supported in makerspaces?
RQ2.What can academic library services bring to the effective organisation and support of makerspaces?
Literature review
How is learning achieved and supported in makerspaces?
Makerspaces, a relatively recent phenomenon popularised by Dale Dougherty and his company Maker Media, is a community workspace where people can come and experiment with technologies including computers, machining and digital art to create whatever they want. Makerspaces is a growing phenomenon with over 500 established worldwide (Schrock, 2014) including approximately 100 in the UK (Sleigh et al. , 2015) that has developed in communities, and subsequently museums and libraries: "The Makerspace is the more DIY-oriented cousin of the hacker-space" (Willingham and De Boer, 2015, p. 2). The maker movement [which has its own manifesto: "Making is fundamental to what it means to be human. We must make, create and express ourselves to feel whole" (Hatch, 2014, p. 1)] incorporates Maker Faires, showcasing innovative products often developed in makerspaces using older technologies (e.g. typewriters, cassette tapes, old floppy disks) as well as newer platforms (such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino,...