Makersmeet

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s Makersmeet was introduced by the US Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in collaboration with the library with an annual grant of USD5,000 as well as from a staff’s attachment programme at Connecticut Public Library United State of America in year 2015. Returning from the attachment programme, the idea was made into a reality in year 2016, in collaboration with United States of America. From this collaboration Pustaka Negeri Sarawak received Grant from the United States to support this idea and implement the Pustaka Makerspace.

Makersmeet is an on-going program organized by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak (PUSTAKA). This program which is held in both Kuching, Miri branch and soon Sibu branch is one of Pustaka’s campaign towards ICT and creative initiatives. Participants get to spend their time in our Makersmeet space called Makerspace in the library and taking part in creating inventions and knowledge-filled activities.

The target of this program is that children and youths are exposed to activities that could help them develop information-seeking skills, excel in learning and at the same time experience a fun learning environment apart from inculcating reading habit as well as frequenting libraries as a venue to acquire legit knowledge and information.

As much as possible, Pustaka involves other Government agencies, non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and even private companies as collaborators as they are able to contribute much needed knowledge, information and skills to the activities held.

In Pustaka’s Makersmeet activities, members of varying ages can work together, alone, or with library staff on creating creative projects at our Makerspace Corner. These spaces will give community or members access to tools, technology, and social connections. Pustaka’s Makerspace provide technology like 3D printing, 3Doodler, woodworks, gardening, robotics, arts and craft that may not be easily accessible otherwise. The goal of a makerspace is to allow members to learn through direct experimentation and from each other. The main purpose of this initiative is to share and utilize the whole building as information learning spaces for users. The main success factors were the strategic alignment between parties based on mutual respect and understanding. Other factors include top management support and the professional skills of the people in charge of the corner. The library should be a community centre for societal development through various organized programs.

Amongst the activities installed are learning to use Tinkercad website in doing designs for 3D printing and it is quite similar with the regular printer, only the outcome is in 3D instead of on a paper. Apart from that, exploring the Makeblock Neuron Inventor Kit. With the given instructions, users are free to use their own creativity and logic to come up with motion, sound or lights result based on their likings. This is actually a good activity as it tests our critical and logical thinking.

Amongst the activities installed are learning to use Tinkercad website in doing designs for 3D printing and it is quite similar with the regular printer, only the outcome is in 3D instead of on a paper. Apart from that, exploring the Makeblock Neuron Inventor Kit. With the given instructions, users are free to use their own creativity and logic to come up with motion, sound or lights result based on their likings. This is actually a good activity as it tests our critical and logical thinking.

Participants were exposed to personal skills and imaginative activities such as handicraft technology, coding system and setting up robotic codes. Pustaka’s Makerspace receives attention from the U.S. Embassy, schools, local universities and government agencies whereby these organizations agreed to work with Pustaka in organizing events at our Makerspace. Besides being taught on listening skills, participants were required to implement their hands-on skills with their facilitators.

Throughout the years of holding Makersmeet activities, various collaboration efforts were held. Among other smart partners who made this program successful were Curtin University, IBS College, Politeknik Mukah, and non-governmental agencies. There are also volunteers who contributed as speakers and facilitators.

Meanwhile, every year Makersmeet are also being held outside the library whenever the library brought outreach programs to the general community which is outside Miri city.

Impacts of Makerspace

For the past 4 years, students and communities of various ages have participated in both libraries in Kuching and Miri. Along the way, improvements were made to ensure that the activities organized are relevant to the current needs. All the participants were registered as members of Pustaka as to enable them to fully utilize the facilities and services at the libraries. The membership can be used infinitely, not only while they were participants or students.

They were taught the important skills of information literacy and practiced them during related activities such as impromptu quizzes, presentations etc. These skills would eventually come in handy when they further their studies. In the evaluation forms distributed and collected after each session, majority of the students indicated that they have learnt new skills and obtained information that they never knew could do so easily by coming to the library. Most participants expressed their interest of attending similar sessions in the future should they be given the chance.

Every year Pustaka hopes that this Makersmeet program is also able to increase the confidence and motivation level among the participants while simultaneously trains them work within groups and carry out their assigned tasks with responsibility.

Participants can be seen to come out of their shells within few minutes of the session and bonded through friendship even when they come from different schools, races, religions and social backgrounds. Each session in this Makersmeet encourages creativity skills and guide the groups in teamwork tasks.

Teachers from participating schools also highly commended the library for holding the program because it gives the students a chance to learn new skills and knowledge outside the classroom. They found that the students did show some improvement in terms of creativity and innovative as one of the main focus of the activities. It is one of the programs that the library plays an important role in supporting the Sarawak Government Digital Economy.

Marketing Strategy

Like most marketing strategy and effort for activities and programs in Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, we emphasize on both printed and non-printed or physical and virtual channels of promotion.

*Printed ( Physical ) promotion
Posters at the library and premises, banners, Invitation Letters, Press Releases and Publications ( ie: Magazines, Newsletters & Happenings ( annual compilation of Pustaka’s newspaper articles )

*Non-printed ( virtual ) promotion
Sarawak State Library official website, social media ( Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube ), Sarawaknet Portal ( a portal owned by the ICT Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department in promoting Government agencies-related updates), radio and television Coverage ( announcement, radio interview and news casting ).

Apart from these two (2) channels, word-of-mouth, social media promotion, customer day, product giveaways also plays a significant role in promoting the information on the programs and activities held at the library. The uniqueness of the marketing strategy for Makersmeet is its intensity and frequency in the promotional efforts.
Social Media address for promotional purposes:

Conclusion

Even though the Makersmeet program is organized on a minor scale every year, it has created a ripple effect whereby the participants became the spokespersons or ‘ambassadors’ for the library. Before taking part in the program, some had never or seldom step into a library but after discovering what a library has to offer, they began to see the library as being more than just a place to read and borrow books. With the continuous support of other organizations, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak will continue to hold its Makersmeet programs to encourage more people to treat libraries as the preferred gateway to knowledge and information. More than a meeting place to show creativity, it was also a platform for students and working adults to make some money from their creations.