Slides from a presentation on Makerspaces delivered by Stephen Carter at the New Jersey Library Association Adult Services Forum 10/22/2012. Stephen Carter is co-director of the New Jersey Makerspace Association http://njmakerspace.org/

1. Introduction to
Makerspaces
Garages for tomorrow’s
innovation
Stephen Carter
Rutgers University
scarter@rutgers.edu

2. A Rich History
Every slideset must include a quote from Wikipedia…
Some of today’s hottest companies were started in a garage or
dorm room. Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook.
Today these companies aren’t too worried about competing
with each other. What keep’s them up at night is the thought of
what some geek is doing in some garage.
We want to build a nation of garages….

3. Many Names,
One Mission
Makerspaces
Makelabs
Makerhoods (California)
Hackerspaces
Creative Spaces
Fab Labs (New York)

4. Simple … but complex
Spaces can take many forms
Makerspace goals are simple
– to create, motivate and
innovate. Well, not so simple.
The good news is
experimenting is fun.

5. Wikipedia Definition:
What is a Makerspace?
Every slideset must include a quote from Wikipedia…
A hackerspace or hackspace (also referred to as a hacklab,
makerspace or creative space) is a location where people with
common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art
or electronic art, can meet, socialize and/or collaborate. Hackerspaces
can be viewed as open community labs incorporating elements of
machine shops, workshops and/or studios where hackers can come
together to share resources and knowledge to build and make things.

6. New Jersey help paved
the way…
R.E.S.I.S.T.O.R.S formed in 1966
The RESISTORS - Radically Emphatic
Students Interested in Science, Technology
and Other Research Subjects was one of the
first computer clubs in the United States,
meeting in the sixties and seventies in a
Hopewell Barn in central New Jersey. The
group of computer geeks (mostly teen
students at Hopewell Valley Central High
School) formed in 1966 to play with High Schoolers in a Hopewell Barn
electronics, write primitive code, talk about
the future of computing, and protest bad
science education. Publicly Supported

7. Two primary types of
Makerspaces
Public and Private
Membership Supported (Private)
Typically a group of like-minded individuals
forming a 501c3 supported by membership
dues ($25-$100 per month). Pays rental of
space (garage/warehouse), insurance, and
basic equipment. Loosely organized.
Publicly Supported
A makerspace at a university, k-12, library,
museum, etc. Supported by grants,
foundations, donations, public funds.
Publicly Supported

8. NJ’s Makerspaces are
gaining momentum!
• Public Supported:
• Rutgers University (2)
• Newark Museum
• Membership Supported:
• Fubar Labs
• Trenton Atelier
• Institute for Exploratory Research
• Hoboken Makerbar
• Hive 4 (Allentown, PA)

9. What goes on in
Makerspaces?
Not just Pop-tarts and Cheetos
OPEN HOURS
Times when facility is open to its members/public for fabrication,
experimentation, or fixing one's toaster.
MEETUPS
Informal seminars (i.e weekly) on some mutual topic of interest.
Includes 30-60 minute, followed by experimentation.
CHALLENGES
Organized competition in various topics. Many including
commercial sponsorship and prizes.
DISRUPTIVE EDUCATION
Using makerspaces as the vehicle for advanced educational
strategies, i.e. learn by doing. MIT Power Wheels Racing at New York’s
Maker Faire every September.

10. Makeup of a
Makerspace?
Most Makerspaces have common equipment base…
Most makerspaces today are
electronic / IT centric.
Equipment supported
includes 3d printers, laser
cutters, micro-controllers
(Arduino), robotics.

11. But Also…
Makerspaces emerge in new focus areas
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Renewable Energy and
Sustainability
• Life Science and Bio
• Arts and Fashion

12. And Entrepreneurship…
Makerspace and Entrepreneurship, perfect together
• STEM students interested in
entrepreneurship.
• Prototyping
• Peer to Peer Networking
• Gateway to start-ups

13. Great for Libraries!
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Detroit Public Library
West Port, CT Library’s Logo
Cleveland TechCentral

14. Great Opportunities
for Libraries!
• A Dedicated Hacker Spaces - Each community could have a space to have hackathons that could be
used for locally driven events as well as a place for out of town organizers to throw events.
• Hackathon Model - Libraries could adopt a hackathon model for throwing small or large events in any
area, allowing kids and adults to organize and participate in hackathons in any topic area.
• Sponsorship - Bring in sponsors much like we do for hackathons, allowing tech and other companies to
invest in single or ongoing hackathon efforts at libraries in the markets and subject areas that matter to
them most.
• Revenue Opportunities - These sponsorship opportunities would allow libraries to create new ways to
fund their operations based upon the corporate sponsors that reflect the type of space libraries want to
create.
• Mentorship - Allow anyone to become a hacker mentor in any subject, allowing them to share expertise
and knowledge with others in their community.
• Resources - Libraries could provide access to computers, Internet connectivity, data repositories, code
repositories, APIs, software and other resources that are essential to hackers.
• Community Innovation - These new library hacker spaces could be centers for community innovation to
occur, bringing in outside ideas, and circulating new ideas within existing community leaders.
• Incubation - Library hacker spaces could be centers of business incubation, providing a rich and fertile
environment for ideas to take root and find the resources and talent they need to actually become
businesses, creating desperately needed jobs in communities.
Source: Random blog at http://www.apievangelist.com/2012/02/07/lets-
remake-libraries-as-hacker-spaces-and-community-innovation-centers/

15. Coming October 24th….
http://www.njmakerspace.org

16. Goals of New Jersey
Makerspace Association
Based at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Makerspace Association will:
• Encourage collaboration and partnerships among New Jersey's
makerspaces - both member based and publicly supported;
• Provide technical guidance and consultation for K-12 and other public
entities (i.e. libraries) wishing to create new spaces;
• Seek grant opportunities for equipment and events (i.e. Maker Faires);
• Promote makerspaces to our elected representatives;
• Create curriculum for educational related activities.

17. JUST DO IT.
We encourage everyone to start making in
your communities and schools to create
something of your own imagination. The
thought of starting a makerspace can be
daunting. Finding space, funding and
selecting equipment, engaging students and
the public, recruiting mentors and staff,
liability, etc.
The New Jersey Makerspace Association is
here to help. Publicly Supported
The importance of play

18. Questions?
Let us know your ideas!