Williams, R.D. & Willett, R. (2017). Makerspaces and boundary work: the role of librarians as educators in public library makerspaces. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 51(3).
Available at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0961000617742467
Pre-publication and free download available at https://www.academia.edu/34609303/Makerspaces_and_boundary_work_the_role_of_librarians_as_educators_in_public_library_makerspaces
Abstract
This article explores public librarians’ performance of boundary work in relation to teaching and learning in library makerspaces. Boundary work occurs when individuals delineate their domain of knowledge. We use interviews with 23 library staff to analyze the forms and characteristics of boundary work connected with the role of libraries and librarians in makerspace programming. Our findings show that public librarians perform boundary work in relation to the roles of (1) libraries as spaces for book-based and maker-based experiences, (2) librarians as information specialists and educators, and (3) libraries as spaces to access individual and social resources for learning. The forms and characteristics of boundary work include coordination, identification, justification, reflection, and change.
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