Materiality
Materiality
in make-a-thek
Materiality brings attention to materials as practical, cultural and environmental resources. It supports libraries in collecting, organising, displaying and reusing materials, while connecting them to local practices, stories, crafts and circular systems.
Beginner
Introduce users to available materials through simple samples, clear information and low-barrier activities. Encourage reuse and help people understand what different materials can become.
Intermediate
Develop organised collection and storage systems, connect materials to machines and activities, and establish local partnerships for collecting and reusing surplus resources.
Advanced
Embed material circularity into the space through a structured material library, documented material flows, local sourcing strategies and long-term practices for reuse, repair and regeneration.
Building a Physical Material Library
Step-by-step guidance to collect, label, store, display, and manage physical material samples in your make-a-thek space.
How to use this resource: Use this resource when setting up a physical material library in your make-a-thek space. It guides you through collecting samples, preparing material cards, labelling, storage, display, inventory and basic maintenance routines.
Discover the hero resource
Collecting materials
How to collect, manage and reuse surplus materials through local partnerships and community contributions.
How to use this resource: Use this resource to plan how to collect and manage surplus materials through local donations and partnerships. It helps you define what to accept, how to sort materials, and how to connect material flows to activities and circular practices.
Storage Systems
How to organise tools, materials and resources in a clear, safe and easy-to-use way.
How to use this resource: Use this resource to organise tools, materials, machines and printed resources in a clear and safe way. It offers practical tips for boxes, drawers, labels, access levels and inventories, helping users find and return things more easily.
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