Makers with a Cause

Book excerpt: This quick-start guide explains how to use inquiry to promote civic engagement in the school library makerspace and provides ready-to-use ideas for hands-on service projects. By creating for their community in the school library makerspace, young people not only develop academic and cognitive skills but also learn to value building a culture of caring. Award-winning author Gina Seymour discusses her initiative to empower students to take an active role in making a difference and outlines how to implement similar programs in any school library setting. The book may be used in school libraries in conjunction with a service learning model to extend the learning that takes place in classrooms and to make youth feel a valuable part of their community. Numerous service project ideas are presented, from simple, low-cost, no-tech, craft-based ideas to high-tech projects including 3-D models, and while the book focuses on youth in middle school and high school, many projects may also be used in elementary school. Detailed project instructions include tips for making programs inclusive for all youth, and money-saving tips to promote sustainability.