MakerSpaces 101. February 7, 2013. Available for free as a webinar on demand from YALSA. 49 minutes. (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/onlinelearning/webinars/webinarsondemand).

Hillary Kolos, Director of Digital Learning at the DreamYard Project (an arts education association in the Bronx), gives an accessible rundown of makers, MakerSpaces, their connection to learning, and how to incorporate them into your library setting in this YALSA webinar. The webinar format allows you to experience it in realtime, even after the fact: read the chat logs and gauge audience participation as you hear Kolos speak and ask questions, to take advantage of the interactivity. Her guidance is sound and applicable to all manner of settings: she recommends librarians scaffold ways for novice makers to start small, incorporate both open and structured time, and help beginners get started through hacking and tinkering with existing resources. She makes suggestions for starting materials and tools (such as a sewing machine or a vinyl cutter) and showcases some successful past projects. Kolos even gives advice for places to find funding. Librarians looking to get started creating MakerSpaces of their own or getting others on board should look no further than this handy webinar that lays it all out on the table in an approachable manner. ( )