Guiding Principles for Designing an Accessible, Inclusive, and Diverse Library Makerspace

Abstract

Accessibility, inclusion, and diversity are core library values. In this paper the authors share findings from small focus group interviews of students’ perceptions and preferences towards a new library makerspace, as well as their understandings of and expectations for accessibility, inclusion, and diversity. Building on findings from qualitative research at the University of Virginia (UVA) Library’s Robertson Media Center (RMC) and an interview with staff members from the UVA Student Disability Center, the authors also propose a number of important guiding principles for designing a library makerspace that reflect these core library values.