Fwd: NEW Library Makers Roundtable Series: Share your solutions and hear from others!
Cindi L. Place, MLIS (she/her) Why pronouns <https://pronouns.org/what-and-why>? (231)675-3855 Managing Director - Crooked Tree District Library Alpha Sigma Alpha Region 8 Finance Leader Leadership Team, Library Makers cindiplace@gmail.com “Doctor Who: You want weapons? We’re in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!* – Russell T. Davies* ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Library Makers <info@librarymakers.org> Date: Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 9:54 PM Subject: NEW Library Makers Roundtable Series: Share your solutions and hear from others! To: <cindiplace@gmail.com> Lets talk about our common program challenges, and practical strategies and solutions! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/librarymakers/new-library-makers-roundtable-series-share-your-solutions-and-hear-from-others?e=3ad25fd6de> *Starting soon! A Roundtable Discussion Series that you don’t want to miss!* [image: graphic with schedule for roundtable series] <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=7c55a244b0&e=3ad25fd6de> *Roundtables will be open discussions for sharing good ideas! Facilitators will share some findings, but most of all we invite all participants to be ready to share their own creative approaches!* <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=ee7498f667&e=3ad25fd6de> RSVP for Jan 14 <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=e7fb9ae19f&e=3ad25fd6de> It’s a challenge to build authentic engagement and design outreach that deepens understanding of local needs, fosters and grows inclusive participation, and intentionally elevates the creativity and skills already present within the community. Let’s talk! Bring your best ideas about outreach and engagement for library makerspaces! We will discuss what is most challenging and seek input on how to successfully bring in new audiences and invite authentic engagement. <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=d5328e2cee&e=3ad25fd6de> RSVP for Jan 21 <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=cdfa13178a&e=3ad25fd6de> It’s not easy to communicate a clear, evidence-based narrative that describes the value and impact of your maker program, while also addressing the ongoing challenge of identifying and securing the resources needed to sustain high-quality services. We will offer some ideas we recently collected from the field, and then we will want to hear from you about how your library is addressing this challenge and advocating for your maker program. <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=4236f3bd6f&e=3ad25fd6de> RSVP for Jan. 28 <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=52dd342ff6&e=3ad25fd6de> Designing makerspaces/programs that intentionally remove cultural, socio-economic, developmental, and physical barriers so all community members can fully participate and feel a sense of belonging is a challenging goal, but so important! How are you finding ways to do it at your library? What’s happening at your library? Are you working to increase accessibility? How do people know that they are truly welcome in your spaces? We will talk about the most challenging things you deal with to provide programs for audiences of different abilities and backgrounds, and seek input from participants about how to successfully offer a program that community members can fully participate and feel a sense of belonging. <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=7dafcc3d66&e=3ad25fd6de> RSVP for Feb. 4 <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=17a37e3eed&e=3ad25fd6de> It is no small task to develop resilient maker services that can evolve with community needs. This often involves strengthening the financial, operational and structural systems required for long-term stability. But library people are creative and resourceful and at this event we will share a few great approaches we have discovered! Bring your best ideas about sustainability strategies for library makerspaces and we will compare notes on how different libraries are keeping their systems up to date and be ready for what comes next. Share you input about what works, and what you might have tried that didn’t work, too. <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=998422c9a4&e=3ad25fd6de> RSVP for Feb. 11 <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=a3c890fe45&e=3ad25fd6de> Having the capacity to invest in staff through recruitment, comprehensive training, and ongoing professional development. Ideally, staff would be empowered as a knowledgeable and confident workforce ready to meet changing community needs and advancing technologies. We want to hear how your library handles recruiting, developing, and retaining staff in library makerspaces! Come and listen to get some new strategies, too. Attend this roundtable to discuss how libraries might create a culture where staff can grow in their skills and become leaders in the field of maker services. About the Problems of Practice Project *and how you can participate as a researcher or contributor!* Maker Programs, no matter the size, type or location, generally share a common set of challenges, or Problems of Practice. But library people are very creative and resourceful. Our team at Library Makers (who are a diverse mix of library people like you!) are working to research and document how libraries around the country are working to address these Problems at their libraries. Once we complete a few months of research, we will publish these results in a free online publication. *1. SUBMIT EXAMPLES TO THE PROJECT RESEARCH TEAM* *Use this form to send us your examples* <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=e27157ff90&e=3ad25fd6de> *2. ATTEND AND ENGAGE WITH OUR SERIES OF **FIVE WEEKLY ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS* <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=a49667fc5d&e=3ad25fd6de>* ON WEDNESDAYS. Jan 14 - Feb 11* *3. JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER RESEARCH & WRITING TEAM* READ MORE on our website and find out how to be involved in the project! <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=c104e9938e&e=3ad25fd6de> LIBRARY SCIENCE STUDENTS are encouraged to join the reseach project, too! [image: graphic matrix] <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=87d09d4d26&e=3ad25fd6de> *In case you missed it…* Check out the recording of our December 10 event: *Making It Work: Defining Our Shared Library Makerspace Challenges* <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=c180b98b8d&e=3ad25fd6de> Library Makers has been digging into the real-world challenges - or “*Problems of Practice*” - that many libraries encounter when running maker programs or operating makerspaces. At the same time, our partners from the National Library Makerspace Forum have been gathering insights from across the country to better understand the shared values, vision, priorities, and resources that can strengthen the library makerspace movement. In this webinar recording, we share highlights and key takeaways from the Forum’s research, reflect on what we’ve learned together so far, and introduce the five core Problems of Practice that we are inviting the library community to help tackle in the months ahead. *Presenters in this recording include:* Rebecca Teasdale, Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago Kyungwon Koh, Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director, Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab Emilie N. Butt, Fab Lab Instruction an Engagement Coordinator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Cindi Place, Chair, Library Makers Leadership Team Lisa Regalla, Library Makers Leadership Team Pamela Van Halsema, Library Makers Leadership Team *Please share this message with your professional network!* [image: Facebook icon] <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=ea28038094&e=3ad25fd6de> Share <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=d9224f1a91&e=3ad25fd6de> [image: LinkedIn icon] <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=3024380c2c&e=3ad25fd6de> Share <https://makersinthelibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=6cb46ed38b&e=3ad25fd6de> [image: Email icon] <https://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=b48f742c5d&e=3ad25fd6de> Share <https://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=bd13f1ad8a8f84d7f23a23661&id=b48f742c5d&e=3ad25fd6de> *Copyright (C) 2026 Library Makers | Makers in the Library Toolkit. 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participants (1)
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Cindi Place