Democratizing technology in a public library: A nexus analytical inquiry into a Hebocon maker activity

Abstract

Despite a proliferation of digitally enhanced makerspaces in public libraries, there is an acute need for libraries to explore new strategies to broaden the engagement of diverse groups, especially those who do not see themselves as technology oriented. This qualitative nexus analytical inquiry analyses multimodal data from a Hebocon robot-making activity situated in a Finnish public library makerspace, targeting library and youth workers as participants. The findings illuminate how the Hebocon format helped to promote the democratization of technology and the inclusion of novices in robot-making activities, enhancing practice change by creating a safe space in which the participants felt confident about experimenting and being creative. This study contributes to research on maker practices and formats aligned with public libraries' mission particularly from the perspective of robot-making event organization, showcasing the value of the nexus analysis framework to guide research in this area.