Creating Makerspaces in Nigerian Libraries: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

The existence of makerspaces in libraries ensures that libraries are able to build a society were citizens are able to think critically, solve problems and collaborate in order to succeed in STEM and other areas of life. Makerspaces provide creative time and space for people of all ages to build prototypes, explore questions, fail and retry, bounce ideas off one another and build something together. This paper examined makerspaces in Nigerian libraries, low-tech and high-tech makerspaces, as well as makerspaces and libraries. The paper also explored makerspaces set-up requirements for Nigerian libraries, steps for developing makerspaces as well as the benefits of makerspaces to library users. Furthermore, the issues and challenges facing makerspaces in Nigerian libraries were extensively discussed. The paper concluded that, makerspaces, in addition to building the critical thinking ability of citizens, will also foster the development of their interpersonal, communication, teamwork, leadership and mentoring skills.