Designs and Strategies of Public Library Makerspaces for Youth with Disabilities: A Collective Case Study

Despite the growing body of makerspace services and programming in public libraries, research focused on designing accessible makerspaces and making programming for youth with disabilities has been limited, with a few exceptions. By analyzing data from various sources including field observations and interviews with staff and patrons from four public library makerspaces in the United States, this collective case study presents findings of how these makerspaces designed their spaces and what strategies were used in preparing tools and machines, online website, and marketing to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for youth with disabilities. Our findings provide practical implications for the universal and user‐centered design of affordances in public library makerspaces.