Students use high-tech ‘makerspaces’ at libraries

WASHOUGAL — Washougal High School Librarian Hillary Marshall is working to establish “makerspaces” throughout Washington schools. Makerspaces are “collaborative work spaces devoted to using high tech and other tools and materials for creating, making, learning, exploring and sharing,” according to a news release. They’re also being introduced as a curriculum. Sections in the makerspace program training include robotics, design challenge, creation station, circuitry and break & make. Marshall and her training partner, Craig Seasholes, a Dearborn Park International Elementary librarian with Seattle Public Schools, held a training at Fort Vancouver Regional Library on Nov. 16 for local educators to learn about the program, which was funded by a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services though the Library Services and Technology Act. WHS junior Maxwell Malcom used the library makerspace to learn about 3D printing. “I used to come to the library to do research,” he said in the release. “Now I come here to learn a new skill that I never even knew about.” Malcom’s first project was a Christmas ornament and he recently created a six-piece Halloween lantern. “Libraries used to be the center for information, but now students have the internet,” Marshall said in a news release. “The makerspace activities bring students back into libraries. We don’t know exactly what jobs will be available to these kids, so we need to prepare them with a variety of 21st century skills.”