Introducing Our New Makerspace Library!

We opened our Makerspace Library in our new Makerspace last week.  

It is in the middle of the bookshelves on one side of our Makerspace. 

In this space within our Makerspace, students can find lots of materials to create, build, play, and so much more. 

For our new Makerspace Library, I used a wonderful set of Makerspace and STEM focused books I have collected from my friends at Capstone, Crayola, and a few other publishers. 

I have several of these, or books from these series, cataloged and circulating in our library. With multiple copies, and other books from the same series or around the same topic, I thought it would be perfect to bring them together here in our new Makerspace Library. 

I love the Makerspace books that Capstone creates as they cover so many topics like origami, cardboard, graphic novel crafts, fashion design, doodles, and so much more.  You can find these books and others at capstonepub.com. 

For this special part of our library, we decided not to officially catalog the books. We just want this to be a place students and teachers can come to borrow books to use in the Makerspace. 

I created a sticker for the front of the books to identify them easily as part of the Makerspace Library. The sticker also tells students how to use these books in the Makerspace. 

You will find the This is a Makerspace Book sticker template from Canva here. This fits a 2 1/2 inch Avery sticker label. 

I also made a sign similar to the stickers, but giving our students and teachers a little bit more guidance on how to use these books in the Makerspace. 

You will find the Our Makerspace Library sign here in Canva. This one is for a 5 x 7 acrylic frame.

As I find more books our students would love to use in the Makerspace and STEM Lab, I will add them to our Makerspace Library too. 

FETC 2027 Keynote Announced.....Power Players, The Next Generation Is Already In The Game!

 

There is a lot of talk about AI in education right now. And while no one has all the answers, 86 percent of students are already using it. That gap between where students are and where our systems are is real — and it is exactly what I am heading to FETC 2027 to dig into.

Student voice. AI access. Technology used with intention. Pathways to career and college. These are not abstract ideas. They are the conversations happening in my building every day.

You can read all about the speakers here in the special press release. 

If they are on your mind too, join me in Orlando January 26-29. 

You can register here today, friends. Use my code SMILLER10 for 10% off. 

Join Me For The Upcoming Follett Content Webinar...STEM in the School Library....Hands-On Activities That Support Learning Across Subjects!

 

I would love to invite you to the upcoming Follett Content webinar, STEM in the School Library...Hands-On Activities That Support Learning Across Subjects! 

As shared in the invite...

What happens when STEM meets storytelling, creativity, and collaboration? Your school library becomes a place where students can explore new ideas, solve problems, and make connections between what they’re learning in the classroom and the world around them.

Shannon McClintock Miller is back to share how hands-on STEM activities can become a meaningful part of your school library program. From connecting STEM to literacy and core subjects like social studies to collaborating with classroom teachers, Shannon will share practical ideas that bring learning to life and keep students engaged.

In this session, you’ll:

• Discover hands-on STEM activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.

• Explore ways to connect STEM with literacy, reading, social studies, and other core subjects.

• Learn how collaboration with classroom teachers can create meaningful, cross-curricular learning experiences.

• Find approachable STEM activities and resources you can adapt for different grade levels.

• Walk away with practical ideas for making STEM an engaging part of your school library program.

Whether you’re just getting started with STEM or looking for fresh ways to build on what you’re already doing, you’ll leave with ideas and inspiration you can put to work in your library.

Can’t make it live? Register anyway, and we’ll send you the recording after the session.

You can register here. I hope to see you there, friends.