2020 Poster Sessions
Creating a Community of Crafting at your Library

 

Intended Audience

Academic Libraries, Library Leadership

Poster Summary and Objectives

In the spring of 2019, Eckerd College Library implemented a makerstation within the library to support the craft community on campus with resources to learn and practice needlecrafts while providing tangible ways to manage stress, improve self-esteem, provide creative fulfilment, and expose participants to craft as a means for social change. The project links an existing student-run Stitch ‘n Bitch club with other members of the campus community to bring crafters from all generations together to learn about needlecrafts while providing opportunities for socializing and experiential learning. Through internal campus grants, the Library established regular Stitch ‘n Bitch sessions, supplemented the Library’s academic collection with the addition of craft books, and created a Craft Exchange makerstation where members of the community can freely borrow craft materials or donate any unwanted craft supplies as well. The second year of the project brought community craft events and additional crafting tools to the Library to support additional engagement. The outcome is the creation of an inclusive, supportive, and intergenerational community of crafters who take value in sharing ideas, expertise, and extra supplies.

This poster will describe the steps taken to build our campus craft community through leveraging partnerships across campus, and seeking ways to incorporate craft into the academic environment. The Stitch ‘n Bitch project is a simple and cost-effective approach for libraries with limited space and resources to delve into the makerspace arena. Providing crafts as a means for self care, creative expression, and to support social causes also helps to enhance the Library’s efforts to be part of the campus community.


Presenters

Nancy Schuler- Eckerd College

  • I applied and received two internal grants to support this project, and recently submitted a book chapter discussing the project titled “Intergenerational Learning and Crafting through Stitch ‘n Bitch”, scheduled to be published in the forthcoming book, Makerspaces for Adults: Best Practices and Great Projects, Rowman & Littlefield.