The Guild of Library Makers
Professionalizing Library Makerspaces · Est. 2024
Our Mission
GoLM drives the expansion and support of library Makerspaces through mutual aid. We are professionalizing our discipline through the development of shared, sustainable infrastructure and resources.
Our Vision
“A future where every library makerspace is sustained by a permanent, professionalized network of collective knowledge, shared resources, and mutual support.”
About GoLM
The Guild of Library Makers — who we are and why we exist
The Guild of Library Makers (GoLM) is a professional community for library makerspace practitioners at every stage — whether you’re launching your first program, sustaining an established space, or simply trying to figure out what a makerspace even looks like in your context.
We were founded on a simple premise: the knowledge, experience, and hard-won lessons that live in individual practitioners’ heads are too valuable to stay there. By documenting, sharing, and building together, we make the whole field stronger.
We know that starting or sustaining a makerspace can feel like a big step. We are here to help — and to make sure no one has to figure it out alone.
GoLM drives the expansion and support of library Makerspaces through mutual aid. We are professionalizing our discipline through the development of shared, sustainable infrastructure and resources.
“A future where every library makerspace is sustained by a permanent, professionalized network of collective knowledge, shared resources, and mutual support.”
We prioritize systems, documentation, and shared practices that outlast any single individual’s tenure.
We share our blueprints, budgets, and failures freely within the Guild.
We focus on technology and programming that is realistic, maintainable, and affordable within the library context.
We transform individual troubleshooting into collective wisdom through active peer support.
We act as guides rather than gatekeepers — ensuring makerspace staff and patrons of all backgrounds feel they belong.
Discord
Our Discord is where the community lives day to day. Ask questions about a project, get help with equipment, share what’s working, and connect with practitioners who truly get what you’re dealing with.
- Peer support and quick answers
- Equipment troubleshooting
- Program ideas and inspiration
- Guild announcements and events
The Wiki
Our Miraheze wiki is the Guild’s institutional memory. Every hard-won lesson, every SOP, every piece of guidance gets documented here — so it outlasts any one person’s tenure.
- Equipment SOPs with step-by-step guides
- Software walkthroughs
- Policy and program templates
- Publicly viewable — members can edit
Making Near Me
Library Makerspaces in Michigan
Social Media
Follow along and see what we’re making
Guild Members
The practitioners building library makerspaces across Michigan and beyond
Board of Directors
Our board provides strategic direction and governance for the Guild.
Founders
The people who started the conversation and built the foundation of GoLM.
Active Members
Practitioners who actively contribute to the Guild — shaping our wiki, attending events, and building the field.
Our Wiki
The Guild’s institutional memory — built by practitioners, for practitioners
Our wiki is where the Guild’s collective knowledge lives. Every SOP, every policy template, every hard-won troubleshooting tip gets documented here so it outlasts any one person’s tenure — and so the next person doesn’t have to start from scratch.
The wiki is publicly viewable by anyone. It runs on Miraheze, a community-hosted MediaWiki platform. We welcome contributions from community members who want to share their knowledge and experience.
Step-by-step operating procedures for makerspace hardware and software — laser engravers, 3D printers, button machines, xTool Creative Studio, and more.
Program frameworks, equipment waivers, and operational standards ready to adapt for your library.
Anyone can browse the wiki freely. It’s a living resource that grows as the community contributes knowledge and experience.
Built from the real experiences of library makerspace practitioners — practical, tested, and written for people doing this work.
Want to contribute? Join our Discord or email us at guildoflibrarymakers@gmail.com and we’ll get you involved.
Join Discord →Our Discord
Where the Guild community lives day to day
Our Discord server is the beating heart of GoLM. It’s where practitioners ask questions, share projects, troubleshoot equipment, swap program ideas, and build the kinds of relationships that make this field feel less lonely.
This is also the primary way to become an active member of the Guild. There’s no formal sign-up — just show up, introduce yourself, and start contributing. We’re a welcoming community and we can’t wait to meet you.
No question is too basic. Whether you’re starting from zero or running a mature program, there’s someone here who’s been there.
Troubleshoot your laser engraver, 3D printer, or button machine with people who run the same gear.
Share what’s working, what isn’t, and the lessons you wish you’d had earlier in your career.
Stay in the loop on GOLMCon, the wiki, the dataset project, and everything else the Guild is building.
Prefer email first? Reach us at guildoflibrarymakers@gmail.com and we’ll welcome you from there.
GOLMCon 2026
The Guild of Library Makers — Second Annual Conference
The Guild of Library Makers is planning its second annual conference (GOLMCon 2026). This is our gathering for library makerspace professionals — a day of peer learning, honest conversation, and the kind of connection you can only get in a room full of people who truly understand this work.
Stay tuned for updates as planning continues. Registration details are coming soon.
Southfield Public Library
Southfield, Michigan
September 18, 2026
Fall 2026
Registration details are not yet available. Get notified when they’re ready.
Building on the energy and connections from our first gathering in 2025.
Want to be notified when registration opens? Join our Discord or email us and we’ll keep you in the loop.
Join Discord →