3-D Printing at the Library

A Makerbot 3D Printer – Photo by Bre Pettis

In a world where doctors are printing new organs and prosthetics, the impact that 3-D printers are already having in our day-to-day lives is far-reaching. In keeping with the San Juan Island Library’s Mission to “pursue innovation in services and resources to meet the evolving needs of the Library and our patrons,” the Library strives to offer community access to new and emerging technologies. Toward this end, and thanks to a generous donation, the Library is proud to announce that it will be bringing 3-D printing to its patrons.

3-D printing is the process of making a three-dimensional object from a digital file. You begin by creating a virtual design on a computer or using a 3-D scanner to replicate an existing object. Software is then used to slice the designed object into hundreds of horizontal layers. The design is sent to the 3-D printer where hot plastic is passed through a super-heated nozzle and laid down layer upon layer via a robotic arm. 

Originally used in highly specialized fields such as biotechnology, aerospace, medical technology and robotics, 3-D printing applications are now being used in a variety of fields and by a variety of people including students, hobbyists and educators. It’s empowering people to make functional prototypes, limiting both cost and manufacturing risks.

Beginning Tuesday, November 15th, our Makerbot 3-D printer will be on display in the small study room, printing demonstration designs. For the initial launch, designs will only be created by Library staff, with a view to opening this up to the public in the future.

As its plastic filament, the San Juan Island Library will be using PLA which is a corn starch product, is compostable and non-toxic. It does smell slightly like popcorn so it will be housed in a well-ventilated area.

The San Juan Island Library sees digital literacy as an important part of its mission, and looks forward to adding 3-D printing to its existing literacy programs such as Tech Tuesdays and ongoing computer classes.

For more information, visit the San Juan Island Library at 1010 Guard Street or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Our website www.sjlib.org offers streaming movies, downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, and a wide range of online databases and access to all of our collections. Questions? Call us at 378-2798.

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