VOL.25 ISSUE 1
From the Dean The library is a place where students often seek resources to complete academic assignments, but did you know that it is a place to engage student creativity too? For a few years, I have been researching “makerspaces,” places that foster people’s creative thinking. Maura Smale said,
OCT. 2015
way. 3D printers are becoming more popular in libraries because the libraries support creative exploration. The costs of 3D printing has not yet come down enough for the library’s budget. I found that there were less expensive ways to bring creativity into the library, so we purchased Lego bricks. Lego bricks have been engaging builders, young and old, for decades. At the beginning of fall 2015, the SCC Library initially invested $152 in sets of Lego Creative Bricks and put them out on a library table for self-initiated creative engagement. After receiving a $300 Wellness Grant, the library added Lego Creative Suitcases, the Apple Tree House, and a couple of extralarge baseplates.
CINAHL with Full Text………..2 New DVD Location……………2 New Library Staff……………..2 Book Club………………………2 New from EBSCO……………..3 Bookface Contest……………..4 Award Winners………………..5 Websites……………………….6
“Makerspaces can also provide a gathering place for like-minded hobbyists to create and collaborate” (http://acrlog.org/2012/10/16/ making-things-in-academic-libraries/). I envision the future SCC Library as a place of student engagement, a place where the light bulb turns on, where students not only learn, but also teach others about what they have learned. The library will become a place of creativity. Initially, I explored the idea of adding a 3D printer to the library. This would allow students to print objects, explore new things and bring math and science to life in a practical
Several students have been creating with Legos in the library. Research shows that when students actively create, they become better problem solvers, i.e., more successful learners. I challenge faculty to incorporate Lego creativity into their assignments. For more information, visit https:// education.lego.com/en/lesi/university/.
Stephanie D. Tolson, Dean Learning Resources & Academic Support