As a final project for LIS 7580, Makers and Makerspaces, I learned the new-to-me craft of water color embroidery. After putting in some hours to learn the craft itself, I utilized various open source programs from class to create an instructional video and print instructions. Between free video (DaVinci Resolve), music (Audacity), and photo (Gimp and Canva) editing softwares, I ended up with a final project I am pleased with, and a practical understanding of how to put maker tools to use. This project demonstrated to me how mindful you need to be in creating step-by-step instructions, considering different users and ways information might be interpreted. 

I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to explore the intersection of creativity and libraries. It was really exciting to explore the Maker Movement, and not only learn how to teach and implement maker activities, but explore the many applications maker spaces have for libraries. The resources I became privy to in this class are ones that I know I will carry into future library jobs. 

At my own school library this year, I have brought forth the maker momentum from my summer semester to learn how to use our laser cutting GlowForge, and have been making property labels while I scheme up ways to expose students to this tool. I am excited to see how else I can implement different maker activities into the school library space to offer students and teachers unique opportunities to exercise creativity and engage in hands-on learning.

For MLIS class 7580: Makers and Makerspaces, we studied makerspaces and maker culture. Our final project culminated in learning how to "make" something new and then creating a tutorial teaching others how to do it. For my final project, I learned how to print and bind fanfiction, which is demonstrated in a video tutorial and Instructable PDF. This class and project taught me how to create and edit videos, edit and imbed sound into videos, edit photos, and create thumbnail photos. This course revitalized my passion for helping others learn—as well as myself—through play and tinkering. LIS 7580 emphasized exploration and room for mistakes in the learning process and how important it is for people to have that outlet. It also challenged me with a number of digital content creation platforms, none of which I had used before. I graduated from high school before 3D printers were common in schools, so I'd never done anything related to 3D printing before. In Makers and Makerspaces, we tinkered with video production, music editing, computer game coding, photo editing, and more. 

In addition to reaffirming the importance of exploration in the learning process, this course showed me the ways libraries connect with the STEM field and their vital presence in education. Makers and Makerspaces was one of the most enjoyable, inspiring, and memorable classes I've taken in my St. Kate's MLIS program, and I can't recommend it highly enough. For MLIS class 7580: Makers and Makerspaces, we studied makerspaces and maker culture. Our final project culminated in learning how to "make" something new and then creating a tutorial teaching others how to do it. For my final project, I learned how to print and bind fanfiction, which is demonstrated in a video tutorial and Instructable PDF. This class and project taught me how to create and edit videos, edit and imbed sound into videos, edit photos, and create thumbnail photos. This course revitalized my passion for helping others learn—as well as myself—through play and tinkering. 

LIS 7580 emphasized exploration and room for mistakes in the learning process and how important it is for people to have that outlet. It also challenged me with a number of digital content creation platforms, none of which I had used before. I graduated from high school before 3D printers were common in schools, so I'd never done anything related to 3D printing before. In Makers and Makerspaces, we tinkered with video production, music editing, computer game coding, photo editing, and more. In addition to reaffirming the importance of exploration in the learning process, this course showed me the ways libraries connect with the STEM field and their vital presence in education. Making and Makerspaces was one of the most enjoyable, inspiring, and memorable classes I've taken in my St. Kate's MLIS program, and I can't recommend it highly enough. 

Video tutorial link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ3ZJbK8xeM 

Instructable PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H69IRgpVApHVdjCqSftFoffnhdgMoqe-/view?usp=sharing 

Social Justice in Children's and YA Literature - Summer '23

Social Justice in Children’s and YA literature (LIS 7190) discusses the importance of social justice in libraries but also the lack of diverse representation in library staff and materials. The focus on how big of an issue this is as well as what has and has not been done to combat this continued problem is also a key point of conversation. Although these topics are something discussed in other classes, this course really enunciated the point and how this lack of diversity in library staff  and materials contributes to potential marginalization of diverse populations in the community as well as makes it difficult for multiple voices of differing backgrounds to be heard. With the rise in book challenges and book bans as well as the turbulent nature of politics in today’s society, it is even more important for librarians and those who work with the community to be aware of the social justice issues taken on in the library and the wider community. This course did a phenomenal job of providing resources surrounding social justice issues in libraries, with the public opinions of the library, and on social justice issues in the community as whole while also providing a thorough list of fiction and nonfiction resources for children and young adults that focus on social justice over time and a across a range of topics. I know the skills I developed in this course will help me greatly as a library professional.

For this class we completed a book club guide that catered to high school students and was designed to operate during the summer months. This included four meetings throughout the summer that would start with a screening of the movie "Girl Rising" and continue with discussions from the books I am Alfonso Jones, Does My Body Offend You?, and Nevertheless, We Persisted each meeting. The guide is a support tool for any book club organizer and includes a club schedule overview, detailed book synopsis, thought-provoking discussion questions, recommended read-alike suggestions, potential collaborators, a budget outline, and a mock-up of promotional materials to aid in the successful running of the book club.

This project helped us work with every potential step of the process of starting a book club for a public library as a summer program and provided us with a more real life experience of what would be needed to complete this project. The focus on budget and marketing instead of just book selection and discussion questions gave us a more well-rounded experience with how this would be likely to play out in an actual library setting. 

This course is a great choice for those who want to make a meaningful impact in their library careers by promoting social justice, diversity, and inclusion in children’s and young adult literature. Plus, you get the opportunity to read and discuss the newest and greatest books! 

Link to full book club guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m71cegvhFvhFzPh9Yjggdf8vYs3BKviA-twa87kIqLU/edit?usp=sharing