The Michigan State University Libraries are celebrating 10 years of innovation and creativity at the Selma D. and Stanley C. Hollander Makerspace this September, marking a decade of inspiring students, faculty and the broader community to explore, create and collaborate.
The MSU Libraries Hollander Makerspace was established in 2015 on the second floor of the Main Library’s West Wing. It is part of the Libraries’ Creative Solutions Center, which houses units that support creative needs including Publishing Services and the Hollander Print and Production Center, among others. The initial focus of the Makerspace was on supporting entrepreneurship and research, including helping students learn the basics of digital design tools. The Makerspace was outfitted at the time with collaborative tables surrounded by whiteboards, a handful of 3D printers, a desktop laser cutter and a vinyl cutter, which allowed students to design, iterate and quickly fabricate prototypes for school and other projects. Along with digital fabrication tools, the Makerspace also launched a lending technology service that allows patrons to check out equipment like digital cameras and microcontrollers, similar to checking out a book.
In 2019, the Hollander Makerspace began to expand its operations with self-service equipment. What started as a single soldering station grew into a collection of individual service stations known as MakeStations, expanding alongside the emergence of new technologies and changing community needs. Creative Solutions Center Head Jessica Wagner noted that the impetus behind this shift was centered on the student experience.
“Our goal was essentially to broaden the scope of the Makerspace for all disciplines,” Wagner said. “We wanted to move toward more of a student focus and give them a place to come where they could feel free to make mistakes.”
The Makerspace has been especially well known for its 3D printing capabilities since its inception, but one of its biggest and most popular services is its lending component. While initially the collection offered a few digital cameras and microcontrollers for classes to use, the Makerspace Lending Technology collection currently holds more than 40 different types of equipment and over 200 individual kits for all kinds of creative needs including those related to photography, videography, audio recording, sewing, programming or repair. From low-tech to high-tech, the Makerspace aims to provide equitable access to prosumer-grade technology to patrons at no cost.
In addition to the lending opportunities available to patrons, the Makerspace regularly hosts events and workshops to assist with learning about the technologies and services the Makerspace offers. Hollander Makerspace Coordinator Jamie Moriarty said that these events are especially popular during exam time, as students look to take a break from their studies or simply connect over creativity.
“Not only do we have friendly workshops to help students and community members with their projects, but we also embrace and promote making as a wellness practice and place for community generation,” Moriarty said. “Around finals week or other difficult times of the year, our crafting events offer students an avenue for self-expression, de-stressing and simply an opportunity to take a break from their studies and connect over a shared creative activity.”
MSU Educational & Media Design Specialist Daniel Trego has collaborated with the Makerspace for years and noted that it has been a significant resource for students in his entrepreneurial coursework. “Partnering with the Makerspace at MSU has been a game-changer for me and my class,” Trego said. “I teach an entrepreneurship course, ESHP 170, that focuses on prototyping and Jamie has been an incredible partner in helping me design and refine engaging activities over the past few years. Thanks to her and her team, my students get the chance to see their ideas come to life — an experience that simply wouldn’t be possible without their support. I am very grateful to have such a wonderful resource on campus.”
The Hollander Makerspace will be hosting a reception to recognize “A Decade of Making: Celebrating 10 Years of the Hollander Makerspace” on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the MSU Main Library. The public is invited to come connect, create and help envision the future of making at MSU.
The MSU Libraries, ranked among the top research libraries in North America, are at the center of academic life at Michigan State University, providing expertise, collections and infrastructure for discovery and creation. The MSU Libraries facilitates connections that support research, teaching and learning in MSU’s local and global communities.
This story originally appeared on the MSU Libraries website.
