1.1 Introduction
Makerspace is a physical location embedded to share resources and knowledge, work on, network, projects by different people from different academic background (Wong and Partridge, 2016). Beyond the provision of information resources, libraries have been seen as key educational institutions that facilitate the building of national wealth through the creation and sustaining of access to crucial information. The library, and especially the public library, has been identified as the hub for knowledge creation, processing, dissemination and storage. Libraries are long standing development partners that provide cost effective alternatives. A makerspace by design is a place for cross-fertilization of ideas and creation of things (Ginsberg, 2015). Although the term Makerspace did not appear until 2005, the core idea and technology behind it had existed in various forms over the past decade (Cavalcanti, 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Most Public libraries in developed countries have long seen the nexus between the public library and makerspaces. In most cases, public library spaces have been redefined as makerspaces in a bid to meet the emerging need to for a space for creativity and innovation coupled with access to new technologies. In promoting the idea of makerspaces in Nigerian public libraries, a lot must be done in the area of creating awareness and changing the service concept perception of Nigerian librarians.
Makerspaces, also known as hackerspaces, hack spaces, Tech shop or fablabs are spaces were individuals or groups converge to get innovative with Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, share ideas and invent new ones. Makerspaces therefore entails collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing knowledge that uses high tech or no tech tools (Makerspaces.com, 2019).
Okpala (2016) while making a case for makerspaces in Nigerian university libraries noted the need to change the current thinking of librarians in Nigeria. Some public libraries in developed countries now provide public access computers and instruction to support information literacy. A makerspace is, in a sense, a new stage in the evolution of the library computer lab. Hence, our job now becomes providing access to new technologies and instruction to support new literacies (Scott, 2012).
As development partners, public libraries must be empowered to perform their duties. And for Nigerian public libraries to fulfil this mandate especially as it relates to national integration and development, it must retool its methods, rethink its strategies and redefine its service concept to include the creation of makerspaces. Several institutions are changing their roles to remain relevant. The library cannot afford to stay with the same old flag. The library must move, change roles, and redefine its space to retain its relevance. In fact, the library users are getting so advanced with new technologies that any librarian who chooses to spend so much time sitting behind his desk will soon raise his head to see a crowd of library users who are working without the librarian. In order to meet the changing needs of library users there are several new things the library must do, one of those is to introduce or create a Makerspace in the library.
The role of public libraries should also be seen in the development of the society and its citizens. Public libraries should be able to reach out to the rural areas just as it is done in the developed world. They are required to help in facilitating the planning and implementation of learning programmes to clients like farmers and market women. The economic role played by the public library in the views of Nwosu and Ogbomo (2010) will be dependent on the access to information because national development is very much influenced by the amount of available information.
Children need the library for lifelong education in consonance with the national education policy. In some parts of Nigeria in the views of Usoro and Usanga (2007), children especially those from rural areas or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first meet books in school, and have limited access to books in the home and community. Public libraries in Nigeria are expected to extend library services to nomadic populations, remote communities, rural primary schools, and day care centers.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Makerspaces and Growing Learning Community of Youths for Effective Skills Acquisition Service Delivery in Public Library.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that makerspace services may not have been provided as required by libraries, which the researcher observed may be as a result of inadequate awareness and adoption of makerspace. However, it has been discovered that no relevant literature suggests makerspace awareness level, adoption, benefits and challenges in academic libraries in Nigeria.
Makerspaces are as likely to be low tech as they are to be high tech. Makerspaces are said to be low-tech when it does not involve the use of electronic technology for creativity. Low-tech makerspaces will have equipments like markers, paint, fabric, LEGO blocks, clay, power tools, and even (non-electronic) hand tools.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Makerspaces and Growing Learning Community of Youths for Effective Skills Acquisition Service Delivery in Public Library in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the level of awareness of makerspace by public libraries among youths in the area under study;
- To investigate the challenges encountered in the adoption of makerspace in the study area public libraries;
- To find out the benefits of makerspace to public libraries among youths in the area under study; and
- To determine what constitutes makerspace in public libraries for effective skills acquisition service delivery.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are the challenges encountered in the adoption of makerspace in the study area public libraries?
- What is the level of awareness of makerspace by public libraries among youths in the area under study?
- What are the benefits of makerspace to public libraries among youths in the area under study?
- What factors that constitutes makerspace in public libraries for effective skills acquisition service delivery?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant challenges encountered in the adoption of makerspace in the study area public libraries
- H1: There are significant challenges encountered in the adoption of makerspace in the study area public libraries
1.7 Significance of Study
The relevance of this research will provide access to information is a crucial role of public libraries; the availability and accessibility of information by a nation’s citizens enhance their development. This is why information is regarded as power and a factor in production (Ikenwe and Omigie, 2015).
This study will enable us to know the state of public libraries in Nigeria. It will also help us to appreciate the public library as an agent of political, social and religious development of a community which can compel them in passing the right judgment and taking right decision that affects their lives and existence. The study as expected will be an added literature in this branch of public librarianship.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Makerspaces and Growing Learning Community of Youths for Effective Skills Acquisition Service Delivery in Public Library in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Strategies: This is a plan intended to achieve a particular purpose. It is also a process of planning something in a skillful way.
Challenges: A demanding task or situation. It is a new or difficult task that tests somebody's ability and skill.
Academic Library: According to the librarians glossary they are libraries established, maintained and administered by a university or any other tertiary institution of learning to meet the educational objectives of the institution.
