Califa group, in partnership with the university of wisconsin-madison, will support the strategic expansion of library makers, a national community of library makerspace practitioners focused on…

The Califa Group, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, received a $249,470 Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313). The award will support the strategic expansion of Library Makers, a national community of library makerspace practitioners, with the following key goals:

1. Gather insights from the field to address six problems of practice for libraries with makerspaces;
2. Initiate a sustainable cycle of leadership development to provide individual leadership experience and professional growth;
3. Improve website features and conduct outreach to expand access and exposure for traditionally underrepresented libraries and communities; and
4. Synthesize learnings to design and deliver a professional development series and publications addressing the problems of practice for library makerspaces.

This project aims to continue generating best practices for developing, assessing, and sustaining maker activities in member libraries and beyond. The grant period runs from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026.

Califa group, in partnership with the university of wisconsin-madison, will support the strategic expansion of library makers, a national community of library makerspace practitioners focused on providing support, resources, programming, and training for organizations with emerging and established makerspace programs. Project goals include: 1) listen and gather insights from the field to address six problems of practice for libraries with makerspaces; 2) initiate a sustainable cycle of leadership designed to provide individual leadership experience and professional growth; 3) improve website features and conduct outreach to expand access and exposure for traditionally underrepresented libraries and communities; and 4) synthesize learnings before designing and delivering a professional development series and publications addressing the problems of practice for library makerspaces. Findings from this project will continue to generate best practices for developing, assessing, and sustaining maker activities in member libraries and beyond.