Creating Makerspaces in Nigerian Public Libraries as a Strategy for Attaining National Integration and Development

Abstract

The recognition of public libraries as development partners places an onus on public libraries to provide services that will enhance national integration and development. Whereas libraries have been known to provide information resources in various formats, recent developments around the world have shown that it is no longer enough to provide information to users. Users are being encouraged to become knowledge producers and not just consumers. In this regard, libraries are rethinking their strategies. One of the consequences of this, is the creation of makerspaces: a space for creating things within the library. This paper explores the prospects of makerspaces in Nigerian public libraries. The paper identified how makerspaces could lead to national development by providing access to technology, providing opportunity for users to work together thereby promoting unity and togetherness among the citizenry of a given society as well as providing an enabling environment for people to be creative. The paper argued that makerspaces in Nigerian public libraries will lead to increased patronage and users’ satisfaction, change in perception of librarians by the public, promote synergy among citizens and result in economic development.

URL: http://ijkcdt.net/xml/17761/17761.pdf