UC Berkeley Library Update

By Johanna Harrell, Undergraduate Library Making Fellow, 2025-2026

My time as a Makerspace Fellow this year has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding parts of my Berkeley experience. When I started my fellowship, I was excited to learn new skills and get comfortable with tools I had never used before, but I didn’t realize how much the people around me would shape the experience. Whether it was helping someone troubleshoot a tool, figuring something out together for the first time, or just sharing a moment of excitement when a project turned out better than expected, those interactions quickly became my favorite part of working in the space. I loved how naturally conversations flowed. One second we were talking about how to thread a machine, and the next, someone was telling me about their midterms, their family back home, or how stressed they were about everything happening in the world. Those moments made the space feel bigger than just making things.

Throughout the fellowship, I learned not only technical skills but also how to teach and guide others with patience and care. There’s a special kind of energy that fills the space when someone walks in, unsure of what they’re doing, and leaves feeling proud of what they made. One of my favorite peer learning moments happened when I worked with a student who came in wanting to try something completely new. We were learning embroidery. I had just started developing this skill myself and only knew one type of stitch, so we learned together step by step. We focused on basic stitching techniques and getting comfortable with the tools and process. Learning alongside her made the experience feel collaborative and helped build her confidence to explore more on her own. As we worked, our conversation drifted from the project to the classes we were both taking and how we were trying to balance everything. Seeing someone gain that confidence in real time, both in their skills and in opening up, reminded me why the Makerspace is such a powerful community resource.

Working behind the scenes also taught me a lot about collaboration through consistent communication with my cohort and staff. During busy shifts, when the space was full and multiple students were asking for tools or help using sewing machines, I worked closely with other fellows, such as Hannah, to provide one-on-one support. We regularly checked in with each other about who was assisting which students and what still needed attention, which helped us respond efficiently without overwhelming any one person.

I also collaborated closely with Makerspace staff, especially when I needed guidance on setting up workshops or learning how to use unfamiliar equipment like the 3D printer. By asking questions, receiving feedback in real time, and adjusting plans together, I learned how to anticipate student needs more effectively. These experiences showed me that collaborative communication and shared responsibility are essential to creating an environment where students feel supported and comfortable experimenting without pressure.

As the semester comes to a close, I feel grateful for every conversation, every new skill, and every shared moment in the Makerspace. This fellowship gave me a deeper appreciation for community learning, creativity, and the importance of spaces where people feel safe to try something new. I’m leaving with more confidence, more curiosity, and a genuine love for helping others explore their own making journeys. I’ll carry these lessons with me far beyond this role, and I hope to keep finding and creating spaces where that same sense of connection, creativity, and everyday conversation can thrive.

By Hannah Haliburton, Undergraduate Library Making Fellow, 2025-2026

In my first semester at the Makerspace, I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate three of our monthly workshops. The topics I selected with my peer fellows were clothes mending, halloween decor making, and stamp tile carving. These workshops have become one of my favorite parts of the Undergraduate Library Fellowship.

I co-facilitate the workshops with one or more Makerspace fellows. The workshops begin with the obligatory major and crafting experience introductory questions. There’s often an eclectic mix of majors, from English majors taking a break from Austen to an astrophysics major who found two hours in her busy midterm week to create a needle-felted ghost. Then we ask our icebreaker, such as “What’s your favorite Halloween candy?” or the one that keeps me up at night, “What’s your favorite dinosaur?” They may seem silly at first, unimportant questions leading to small details about an individual (though every crafter knows it’s all about the details). From these silly questions, someone has branched off into a childhood memory, or everyone’s learned a new fact (my favorite was that in the Jurassic period, dragonflies grew up to sixty feet long). Mandatory icebreakers sound reductive, bringing to mind a disinterested GBO leader going down a checklist, but in this space they’re meaningful. Every person at the workshop always answers with sincerity and good humor, and starting off on that tone makes it a warm workshop every time.

Then we move on to the instruction part. Teaching another person a handicraft is difficult. You’ve got to find the balance between describing and demonstrating, and then guiding, offering direction and yet also giving space to let their creativity shine through. It’s a tricky yet interesting balance to find, and I’ve learned a little, with a lot left to go. Every individual learns differently as well, and by about an hour in usually everyone in the workshop is at a different stage in the creative process. There’s a wonderful silence held within a group crafting. When it settles it’s welcomed, and broken by questions or easy chatter. There’s no awkward tension to diffuse, everyone’s focus is on their project. There’s no need for talk of weather or majors between the group of strangers present, our conversations are naturally guided not by an obligation to keep it afloat but genuine interest in the others around us. I find this one of the most beautiful parts of parallel crafting activities. Silence and conversation are equally easy and preferable, so there’s no pressure, and it’s easier to get to know someone when everyone’s hands are busy.

By the end of the workshop, we usually get at least one life long Makerspace convert, and many promises to return. But my favorite part is seeing what each person has created. I’ll never stop being amazed by the endless variety of creation among a group of people who had the same materials and tutorial. Every workshop I’ve been a part of re-affirms my belief in the connective power of crafting and the creativity inherent to every person. I look forward to more workshops next semester, and the connections and crafts that will be made.