ATLAS
ATLAS. Makerspaces in public libraries in The Netherlands.
dr. Olindo Caso & ir. Joran Kuijper
The first ten years of this century Dutch public libraries moved their focus from collections to connections. Currently, libraries are stepping towards invention: by integrating traditional knowledge-consumption and opportunities for knowledge-production they potentially become inclusive laboratories of innovation and agencies for a participated knowledge society. Libraries offer workspaces, tools and tutoring enabling their users to make, discover, co-create, collaborate and share. These so-called Performative Spaces facilitate and support both innovation (technology oriented) and creation (arts and crafts oriented) bringing FabLabs, makerspaces and other opportunities at the reach of all citizens; and allowing libraries to keep pace with societal developments.
Yet, little knowledge is available on the implications of this performative turn in Dutch libraries. How many performative spaces exist in Dutch libraries, and what do they offer? Which tools, staff and expertise are present? What relationships exist between the library’s performative initiative and the context of reference? In particular, the spatial conditions related to the integration of makerspaces in the context of the Dutch public library are a neglect. What size, form and articulation do they have? Are the makerspaces designed or empirically constructed? Do they hold any relationship with the city? Are them a well-integrated service in library? And what about aspects like noise, dust, privacy? This publication maps the spatial characters of the introduction of the performative space n Dutch public libraries, enlightening the actual state-of-the-art.
The publication is part of the research project ‘Performative Spaces in Dutch Public Libraries. Stepping stones of inclusive innovation’ that received a grant from the national NWO KIEM program and that enjoys the collaboration of the Dutch National Library (KB). This project is part of the research program ‘Architecture and the City’ and matches the priority interest of KB towards a socially embedded, innovative library system in the Netherlands.