Can anyone on the list help clarify for me why, in an academic setting,
this kind of equipment and facility isn't part of a laboratory in an
academic department?

Don't get me wrong I am *way* into access to tools, but I remember when I
went to art school that the building had a shop in it.  The shop had a
woodshop, welders, metal lathes, etc.  And it belonged there, not in the
library- because it supported what that department was all about.

Are makerspaces in academic libraries examples of libraries picking up
slack that academic departments should be dealing with?

I ask this with zero snark, I genuinely want to hear some thoughts on
this...

Nate

On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 8:54 AM, Paul Butler (pbutler3) <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Yes, this Fall we are opening the Think Lab here at UMW Libraries. While
> we have been part of the planning process for the space, I would say thus
> far the library has played the role of landlord more than anything else. I
> see this partnership developing as time progresses. (I have a few projects
> planned myself.)
>
> A colleague, Tim Owens, is blogging about the Think Lab here:
> http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2012/07/26/help-tim-owens-build-an-awesome-makerspace/
>
> Cheers, Paul
> +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
> Paul R Butler
> Assistant Systems Librarian
> Simpson Library
> University of Mary Washington
> 1801 College Avenue
> Fredericksburg, VA 22401
> 540.654.1756
> libraries.umw.edu
>
> Sent from the mighty Dell Vostro 230.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Edward Iglesias
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 12:11 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Maker Spaces and Academic Libraries
>
> Hello All,
>
> A colleague and I are going to be presenting at code4lib NE on the subject
> of makerspaces in academic libraries.  Are any of you doing this?  If so I
> would love to pick your brains a little.
>
> Edward Iglesias
>



-- 
Nate Hill
[log in to unmask]
http://www.natehill.net