Libraries & Makerspaces
The Maker Tool
Libraries Love.
Drop it on a table, walk away. Makey Makey turns any library visit into a hands-on invention session — no teacher, no login, no instructions required. Self-directed. Mixed ages. Built to survive heavy rotation.
One Kit. Every Library Program.
Whether you're running a structured after-school club or staffing a drop-in table during summer reading week, Makey Makey fits the moment — no facilitation training required.
Drop-In Activity Station
Set up in minutes. Patrons of any age can pick it up and start making — project prompt cards guide exploration without staff involvement. Perfect for open hours or teen areas.
After-School Maker Club
Six kits support simultaneous small-group making. Students invent their own instruments, games, and machines while building computational thinking skills aligned to AASL Standards.
Summer Reading Program
Tie invention challenges to reading themes and STEM passport activities. Makey Makey creates a reason for kids to come back — week after week, there's always something new to make.
Family STEM Night
Instant crowd-pleaser. Families invent together in under ten minutes, no prior experience needed. A reliable anchor activity for library-hosted community events.
The Library Set
Six complete Makey Makey kits, packaged for shared-use environments. Enough for a full table of simultaneous makers — and built to last.
Makey Makey Library Set
Includes 6 full Makey Makey kits with all cables and alligator clips
- 6 Makey Makey boards — ready to check out or station-deploy
- USB cables and full alligator clip sets included
- Compatible with Scratch, Google Slides, and 1000+ free projects
- No software install, no accounts — plug in and invent
- Replacement parts sold separately (crocodile clips, USB cables)
- Durable injection-molded board withstands daily handling
Purchase orders accepted · Invoicing available · Cooperative pricing on request
No Teacher Required.
Each project guide is designed for independent exploration — clear enough for a 10-year-old to start alone, open-ended enough to keep a curious adult engaged. Five to fifteen minutes each.
5 min · Beginner
Banana Piano
Connect fruit to play notes. Introduces conductivity. No prior experience needed.
10 min · Beginner
Cardboard Controller
Build a custom game controller from found materials. Works with Scratch games on any computer.
10 min · Intermediate
Invention Buttons
Turn anything into a button — foil, coins, plants. Open exploration of conductivity and circuits.
15 min · Intermediate
Scratch Quiz Machine
Build a physical quiz buzzer using household materials and a free Scratch template.
15 min · Advanced
Musical Bookmarks
Turn book covers or art prints into playable instruments. Perfect summer reading tie-in.
Designed to survive the circ desk.
No batteries. USB-powered — no consumables to replace.
Software required. Plug in, open a browser, start inventing.
Storage reset. Full kit re-packs in under two minutes for check-out.
Clips, cables, and boards sold as individual replacement parts.
It's Probably Grantable.
Most library technology budgets aren't one-line items — they're assembled from IMLS grants, E-Rate funds, and Title I supplements. Makey Makey fits neatly into all three. Here's the language that helps.
IMLS — Institute of Museum and Library Services
Makey Makey as an IMLS Technology Line Item
IMLS Grants for Libraries fund projects that strengthen library services and expand access to learning. Makey Makey fits squarely in the STEM access and digital equity priority areas. Use this framing in your narrative:
- Supports hands-on computational thinking aligned to AASL National School Library Standards
- Expands access to STEM tools for underserved youth in informal learning settings
- Durable, multi-year asset — low cost-per-patron over program lifetime
- Works with free open-source software (Scratch) — no recurring licensing cost
- Documented outcomes: invention confidence, circuit literacy, digital creation skills
E-Rate
Technology Supplement & Equipment
Makey Makey can be positioned as a computer peripheral or educational technology device under E-Rate supplemental equipment categories where applicable. Consult your E-Rate coordinator for category eligibility.
- USB device classification simplifies procurement approval
- Works with existing computers
Title I Supplemental Funds
Supplemental Educational Materials
Title I supplemental funds can support educational materials for high-need students. Library makerspaces serving Title I schools may use these funds for STEM program supplies where allowed by district policy.
- Position as supplemental STEM enrichment materials
- Document patron demographics served
Download the IMLS Grant Narrative Template
A ready-to-customize grant narrative with Makey Makey positioned as the technology line item — editable language for objectives, evaluation plan, and budget justification.
"We set it up at our summer reading kickoff and didn't have to explain a single thing. Kids picked it up, invented their own games, and dragged their parents back the next week to show them. It's the only makerspace tool we've bought that genuinely runs itself."
Sarah M.
Youth Services Librarian, Public Library System — Pacific Northwest
Purchase the Way That Works for You.
Library budgets move differently than classroom budgets. We're set up for it.
Request a Quote / PO
Submit a purchase order through your library's standard procurement process. We'll generate an invoice on net-30 terms. W-9 and vendor setup paperwork available on request.
Shop Online
Credit card purchases for smaller orders or programs with discretionary spend. Fast shipping, same product.
Visit the ShopCooperative Purchasing
Cooperative contract options through Mackin Educational Resources and Demco are in progress — two of the primary library purchasing channels. Contact us to be notified when available.
Your Library's Next Great Program Starts with a Quote.
Tell us about your space and we'll recommend the right configuration, connect you with funding resources, and get an invoice in your inbox.