! Maker!Programs!in!Public!Libraries! 2017%

Report%sponsored%by:%

Public'Library'Maker'Program'Survey'Report'2017!

"

1!

2017%Survey:%Maker%Programs%in%Public%Libraries% Table&of&Contents& I."Libraries"and"Maker"Programming"................................................................................................"3" Offer"Maker"Programs"........................................................................................................................."3" Maker"Programs"Most"Commonly"Offered"................................................................................."6" For"Adults"............................................................................................................................................."6" For"Teens".............................................................................................................................................."7" For"Children"........................................................................................................................................"8" Most"Popular"Maker"Programs"....................................................................................................."11" Maker"Program"Attendance"..........................................................................................................."12" For"Adults".........................................................................................................................................."12" For"Teens"..........................................................................................................................................."13" For"Children"....................................................................................................................................."14" Maker"Equipment:"Focused"Vs."Exploratory"Use"................................................................."15" II."Maker"Program"Instructors"and"Spaces"..................................................................................."16" Recruiting"Instructors"......................................................................................................................"16" Diversity"of"Instructors"..............................................................................................................."18" Are"Instructors"Paid,"Volunteers,"or"Staff?"........................................................................."19" Dedicated"Makerspaces"..................................................................................................................."20" Making"Room"for"Makerspaces"...................................................................................................."21" Partnerships"........................................................................................................................................."23" Partnering"with"Local"Organizations"...................................................................................."23" Interest"in"Partnering".................................................................................................................."24" III."Makerspace"Tools,"Resources,"and"Ideas"..............................................................................."25" Tools"and"Products"............................................................................................................................"25" Maker"Tool"Box"..............................................................................................................................."25" Maker"Products"Used"..................................................................................................................."27" Maker"Kits".............................................................................................................................................."30" Maker"Kits"Circulate?"..................................................................................................................."30" Maker"Kits"Shared?"......................................................................................................................."31" New"Ideas".............................................................................................................................................."34" Barriers"to"Maker"Programs"....................................................................................................."37" Avenues"of"Inquiry"............................................................................................................................."39" Maker"Program"Spending"and"Funding"...................................................................................."42" Source"of"Funding".........................................................................................................................."43" Funding"Increase?"........................................................................................................................."44" IV."Respondent"Demographics".........................................................................................................."45" Geographical"Location"......................................................................................................................"45" ©!2017!Library'Journal.!All!rights!reserved.!

www.LibraryJournal.com"" Sponsored"by"littleBits!

Public'Library'Maker'Program'Survey'Report'2017!

"

2!

Region"Served"......................................................................................................................................"47" Population"Served".............................................................................................................................."48" Respondent"Job"Title/Maker"Materials"Recommendation"Authority"........................."49" Job"Title".............................................................................................................................................."49" Role"in"Maker"Materials"Decisions"........................................................................................."50" Appendix"A:"Trends"in"Maker"Programs"......................................................................................."52" Appendix"B."Comments"About"Maker"Programs"......................................................................."53" Unsuccessful"Maker"Programs"....................................................................................................."53" General"Maker"Program"Comments"..........................................................................................."58" Appendix"C."Methodology"and"Questionnaire"............................................................................"64" Methodology"........................................................................................................................................."64" Questionnaire"......................................................................................................................................."64"

& "

&

©!2017!Library'Journal.!All!rights!reserved.!

www.LibraryJournal.com"" Sponsored"by"littleBits!

Public'Library'Maker'Program'Survey'Report'2017!

"

3!

I.&Libraries&and&Maker&Programming& Offer&Maker&Programs& Do"public"libraries"offer"maker"programs"for"their"users?"The"vast"majority—89%— do,"while"only"11%"do"not."" Figure'1.'Does'your'library'offer'maker'programming'for'adults,'teens,'children'or'families?' All'Public'Libraries,'2017'

" Children’s"maker"programs"are"the"most"commonly"offered"(by"83%"of"libraries)," followed"by"teen"maker"programs"(73%)."Just"over"oneehalf"of"public"libraries"offer" adult"maker"programs.""

©!2017!Library'Journal.!All!rights!reserved.!

www.LibraryJournal.com"" Sponsored"by"littleBits!

Public'Library'Maker'Program'Survey'Report'2017!

"

4!

Figure'2.'Does'your'library'offer'maker'programming'for'adults,'teens,'children'or'families?' All'Public'Libraries,'2017'

" Through"a"glitch"in"the"survey"skip"patterns,"respondents"were"asked"a"followeup" question"about"which"types"of"maker"programs"they"offer,"even"if"they"replied"that" they"do"not"offer"maker"services."We"found"that"a"large"number"of"respondents" selected"programming"of"various"kinds—even"those"who"said"they"do"not"provide" maker"services."Therefore,"libraries"are"offering"creative"programming"that"they" don’t"consider"as"“maker”"per$se,"particularly"programs"for"adults"like"cooking," painting/drawing,"and"creative"writing."“I"am"surprised"and"pleased"that"we"are" offering"something"that"is"considered"a"maker"space,”"noted"a"children’s"services" librarian"from"Maine." The"percentages"in"the"tables"below"are"based"on"respondents’"original"answers."If" we"recount"based"on"their"answers"to"the"followeup"question,"we"find"that"69%"offer" adult"(+17%),"80%"offer"teen"(+7%),"and"86%"offer"children’s"maker"programs" (+3%)."" Libraries"serving"populations"under"25,000"are"significantly"less"likely"to"offer" maker"services"(only"77%)."Correspondingly,"rural"and"small"town"libraries"are"the" least"likely"to"offer"maker"programs."" " '

©!2017!Library'Journal.!All!rights!reserved.!

www.LibraryJournal.com"" Sponsored"by"littleBits!

5!

Public'Library'Maker'Program'Survey'Report'2017!

" Table'1.'Does'your'library'offer'maker'programming'for'adults,'teens,'children'or'families?' Public'Libraries'by'Location'and'Population'Served,'2017' LOCATION& ! ! We!offer!maker! programming! Children's!maker! programs! Teen!maker! programs! Adult!maker! programs! Family!maker! programs! No!maker! programming!

POPULATION&SERVED&

Total!

Urban!

Sub;! urban!

Small! Town!

Rural!


Respondent&Job&Title/Maker&Materials&Recommendation&Authority& How"involved"are"our"survey"respondents"in"maker"materials"purchasing"and" recommendation"decisions"in"their"libraries?"" Job&Title& Children’s,"youth,"and"teen"services"librarians"make"up"63%"of"the"respondent"pool." Library"directors"account"for"9%"and"adult"services"another"8%."" Figure'32.'Which'of'the'following'comes'closest'to'your'job'title/function?' All'Public'Libraries,'2017'

" Table'27.'Which'of'the'following'comes'closest'to'your'job'title/function?' Public'Libraries'by'Location'and'Population'Served,'2017' LOCATION& !

POPULATION&SERVED&

Total! 27%!

Urban! 26%!

Sub;! urban! 28%!

Small! Town! 18%!

Rural! 28%!