About the Maker Centered Framework
To develop our frameworks and resources, we conducted research with adult makers and staff at six public libraries serving diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities in three states. We facilitated open-ended discussions to elicit makers’ values and experiences, as well as staff members’ interactions with adult makers. The resulting frameworks are derived directly from adult makers’ experiences, values, and voices.
Please reach out if you want to learn more about our research or are interested in getting involved in future work.
Our team
Rebecca M. Teasdale, PhD, is an associate professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. She studies the interplay of values, information, and evidence to support the design, delivery, and evaluation of inclusive, equitable programs and services in libraries, schools, and community-based organizations. Her work is informed by more than 15 years of experience as a public librarian and administrator.
Gustavo M. Garcia, MA, is a PhD student in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. As a research assistant and PhD student, they are interested in evaluation and how evaluators can be change agents within the communities where they work. They identify as a Latine, non-binary, queer researcher.
Maitrayi S. Subhedar, MA, is a PhD student in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her background in studio arts brought her to museum education. Since then, she has worked across various roles in education, collections care, and visitor experience in a range of museums. Her current research focuses on investigating colonial discourse within museum knowledge systems and how it affects curation, education, and belonging in art museums.
Jennifer Ceja, BA, earned her degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago and will begin a Master of Social Work program in Fall 2026. As an aspiring mental health therapist, she is interested in improving access to culturally responsive mental health care and advocating for underserved communities, particularly Latine individuals and families.
Our Partners
Blue Island (IL) Public Library
- The BIPL Tech Annex opened in 2006. The makerspace was added in 2015 and moved to a newly constructed space in 2022. Learn more about BIPL.
- We partnered with two CPL Maker Labs. The Harold Washington Library Center Maker Lab opened in 2013, and the Legler Maker Lab opened in 2021. Learn more about CPL.
- We partnered with the ideaLAB at DPL’s Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Library, which opened in 2018. Learn more about DPL.
East Baton Rouge (LA) Parish Library
- We partnered with the EBRPL River Center Branch Library makerspace, which opened in 2020. Learn more about EBRPL.
- EPL makerspace opened in 2022. EPL is a rural library with a legal service area of approximately 10,000 and an independent member library of the High Plains Library District. Learn more about HPLD.
- The IPL makerspace opened in 2015. Learn more about IPL.
- PLA served as our dissemination partner.
Research support
This project has been made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services LG-254863-OLS-23 and an Award for Creative Activity from the University of Illinois Chicago. We extend our deep appreciation to the makers who participated in our research, our public library partners, the Public Library Association, and our project advisors.