1. Hack Your Library! Megan E. Shulman, MLIS
Catalog and Reference Librarian
Jackson State Community College

2. To Hack: To manage successfully
To write computer programs for enjoyment
To be successful (hack it)
To develop a shortcut for or make easier

3. Today’s Focus: Space Purpose Collaboration
The LAUNCH Cycle & Leadership
Makerspaces
Evaluation

4. Space Redefining the library space Place vs. Space
Knowledge Spillovers
Create new questions

5. Space

6. Purpose What are we trying to hack? Why? Hackathon
Adelphi University case study

7. Purpose Hackathon (AKA Code Fest, Hack Day or Hack Fest):
“Hackathons provide a venue for self-expression and creativity through technology. People with technical backgrounds come together, form teams around a problem or idea, and collaboratively code a unique solution from scratch — these generally take shape in the form of websites, mobile apps, and robots” (medium.com)

8. Purpose

9. Purpose
Adelphi University 2015 Hackathon from “College & Research Libraries News”
New ideas for mobile app
Increase outreach
Improve library’s image
Year and a half of planning
Platform called Hacker League (
DevPost for management is recommended (

10. Purpose Adelphi Case Study Cont.
Volunteers and judges are crucial: use departments like graphic design, computer science, and educational technology
Majority of funding came from provost’s office and internal funding
Cool prizes: a smart watch and Amazon gift cards
Free food is a drive: pizza, coffee, and snacks were provided
Carefully schedule event

11. Purpose Adelphia University Case Study Cont.
Waiver for legal concerns signed prior to event
Market event: website, banners, posters, tent signs for tables
Winning team devised a group study scheduling tool
Winning app became part of the university’s mobile app

12. Collaboration Find inside & outside sources of collaboration The CO
Hamilton College’s Digital Humanities Initiative
Jackson-Madison County Library

13. The LAUNCH Cycle & Leadership
Look, Listen, and Learn Ask Lots of Questions Understand the Problem or Process Navigate Ideas Create Highlight What’s Working and Failing Get ready to LAUNCH!

14. The LAUNCH Cycle & Leadership

15. Makerspaces

16. Makerspaces
“A makerspace is a place where students can gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials.” ~Diana Rendina, Renovated Learning blogger

17. Makerspaces Jackson State Community College
Jackson-Madison County Library
Jackson Christian School

18. Evaluation Demo-athons for Hackathons: Sense of Community Science Fair
Focus on learning over profit
Give hacks a chance
Go back to the drawing board: Evaluate individual components

19. References
Bogdanov, S., & Issac-Menard, R. (April 2016). Hack the Library: Organizing Adelphi University’s First Hackathon. College & Research Libraries News, 177 (4), Retrived from Gottfried, J. (2014). How to Judge a Hackathon-Finding the Chosen One. Retrieved from Juliani, A.J. & Spencer, J. (2016). LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking To Boost Creativity And Bring Out The Maker In Every Student. San Diego: CA: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. Mathews, B., & Soistmann, L. A. (2016). Encoding Space: Shaping Environments That Unlock Human Potential. Chicago, IL: American Association of College and Research Libraries.

20. YouTube Videos
Leadership—Engage Your Team—Create a Culture of Engagement:
Meet the Ideas Box: A Library/Media Center Ready in 20 Minutes:
What’s a Hackathon?:
What is a Maker Space?: