Making it Happen!

Creating Makerspaces in Educational Settings to Enhance STEAM* Learning and Collaboration

Melanie Allen

*STEAM = STEM + ART

Melanie Allen will introduce the concepts surrounding makerspaces in academic libraries that support STEAM research initiatives. Melanie will also highlight proposed components of the upcoming makerspace for John C. Hodges Library, including a brief demonstration of the Anatomage 3D Virtual Anatomy Table.

Melanie Allen serves as the Health Sciences Librarian for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries. Melanie provides instruction and research support for the College of Nursing, and the Departments of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Nutrition, and Public Health. Melanie serves as Immediate Past President for the Knoxville Area Health Sciences Library Consortium (KAHSLC) and as a trainer for the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).

Prior to her position at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Melanie served as the Librarian at Virginia College in Knoxville. Melanie also served as a Knox County Schools’ Instructional Assistant and Technology Coach at Sam E. Hill Family Community Center from 2006-2011.

When asked why she became a librarian, Melanie states, “I have a strong desire to connect people with the information that they need. When I worked in a preschool that did not have a school media specialist on staff, I quickly realized how vital information professionals are to all types of educational communities.”

Melanie earned a Masters in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition, she also holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Melanie’s research interests include: innovative library technologies for health sciences programs, library support for cultural competency training in health sciences, local nonprofit research support in academic libraries, and graduate student research support.