Pieces of the face shields created by CSEA member Enda Ryan of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District Unit.
POUGHKEEPSIE — The Poughkeepsie Public Library District’s Makerspace is a technology lover’s dream.
With staff operating six 3D printers and a 3D scanner to fulfill library patrons’ requests, the Makerspace is proof public libraries’ resources aren’t limited to what’s on the bookshelves.
While Poughkeepsie’s library buildings were closed to the public during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSEA Poughkeepsie Public Library District Unit member Enda Ryan kept the Makerspace up and running. He was helping fulfill a need for personal protective equipment for hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders, using the 3D printers to create face shields.
When they got word that the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center at SUNY New Paltz needed help answering the call to fabricate face shields, library officials signed on to help.
“Our network analyst, Bruce Sullivan, brought it to my attention and we got the file for the face shields from SUNY New Paltz,” said Ryan, a microcomputer support specialist. “It wasn’t long before we were able to start sending them over to the college.”
Ryan’s focus is on making the plastic pieces that form the frame of the shield, with other groups producing the separate piece that goes over the face. Most of Ryan’s workdays have consisted of keeping the 3D printers fired up and producing mask pieces.
The library’s participation in this project has highlighted the growing makerspace movement. The relative affordability of the MakerBot brand 3D printers, compared to earlier versions, has made this technology accessible to the general public. In Poughkeepsie, library staff assist patrons when needed with programs such as Tinkercad and Thingiverse, which allow for online design and file sharing.
Ryan, who thanked Sullivan and Library Director Tom Lawrence for supporting the project, said having the technology on-site allowed the library to play a rewarding role during a time of crisis.
“There’s a great sense of satisfaction, being able to help people putting their lives at risk helping others,” said Ryan. “To be able to do this during this time gives you a great sense of purpose.”
— Jessica Ladlee
Top image: The 3D printers in the Poughkeepsie Public Library District’s Makerspace.
