Dayton Metro Library branches with 3D printers
Fort McKinley, 3735 Salem Ave., Dayton
Huber Heights, 6160 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights
Miamisburg, 35 S. Fifth St., Miamisburg
Vandalia, 500 S. Dixie Drive, Vandalia
Wilmington-Stroop, 3980 Wilmington Pike, Kettering
At the Vandalia Public Library, a new noise greets patrons as they walk inside: a clicking, whirring noise that signals the new 3D printer is at work.
On Monday, Dayton Metro Library began allowing patrons to request a print from 3D printers in five locations around Montgomery County. The printers are located at the Fort McKinley, Huber Heights, Miamisburg, Vandalia and Wilmington-Stroop branch libraries.
Patrons cannot operate the printer themselves, said Cara Kouse, Wilmington-Stroop branch manager, but they will be able to ask librarians to add their projects to a queue.
“Libraries across the country are starting to look at literacy as more than just books, but as making,” Kouse said.“We’re trying to help people use all kinds of tools to use and make and gather information.”
Anyone who wants to print must bring in a flash drive with the file in a .STL format, Kouse said, and the project must take less than six hours to print. Objects will cost 10 cents per gram printed and must be smaller than 10 inches tall by 10 inches wide by 10 inches deep.
Chuck Duritsch, spokesman for Dayton Metro Library, said the library system had a 3D printer on loan from Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries Consortium earlier this year and it received a lot of interest. In April, Dayton Metro bought five printers for $1,400 each.
Rob Rinehart, technical reference assistant at Vandalia Public Library, is one of the librarians involved in 3D printing. He was troubleshooting the printer by printing a pink airplane Monday morning.
Rinehart said he didn’t know what kinds of projects his patrons would print, but he thinks there will be plenty of creativity.
“I’m excited to see what they print because you can use it in a lot of different ways,” Rinehart said.
When word gets out, he expects the 3D printers will become popular.
Kandis Eshelman of Vandalia, who came to the library with Kaelyn, 6, and Holden, 9, said they might use it to print a dolphin, an owl, or a Star Wars figure.
Eshelman said she wasn’t expecting to see the printer when she walked in Monday.
“I saw it just starting to print and then I heard it,” she said. “I’d heard about 3D printers, but I’d never seen one.”
To use the printer, library patrons must fill out a form, available online at daytonmetrolibrary.org/3d-printing or at the five branch locations. Patrons can get pre-made designs under a Creative Commons license online, or they can make their own creations with online software.
Patrons will be notified when their object is finished and must pick it up within seven days.
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