Diversity and Making: A Living History Quilt

Abstract

Due to a lack of diversity found in the maker movement, makerspaces are going through an evaluation. Academic libraries have an opportunity to rebuild makerspaces and programming from a place of equity. At a University located in the Midwestern United States, the Library maker program collaborated with the Asian American and Asian Resource Cultural Center to make a quilt from printed archival photos, student photos and recorded stories. The result was a “living history” quilt that reflected Asian community and culture on campus. This paper explores diversity in making through collaboration, details of the project process and lessons learned.