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Developing and implementing 3D printing services in an academic library

Document Cited in Related
Date16 November 2015
Pages472-479
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-05-2015-0049
Published date16 November 2015
AuthorGillian Andrea Nowlan
Developing and implementing
3D printing services in
an academic library
Gillian Andrea Nowlan
University of Regina, Regina, Canada
Abstract
Purpose –The purposeof this paper is to describe thedevelopment of a 3D printing pilotproject and 3D
printing libraryservice. Policy development, instruction, and best practiceswill be shared and explored.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper describes the implementation of 3D printing at the
University of Regina Library and details successes, failures, and modifications made to better
provide 3D printing services. This paper outlines one academic library’s experience and solutions
to offering 3D printing for university patrons.
Findings –Although 3D printing has been around for a while, it still requires trial and error and
experience in order to print successfully. Training and instruction is needed to run the 3D printer
and understand how to develop 3D objects that will print successfully.
Originality/value –There have been many publications on 3D printing, but few that discuss problem
solving, best practices, and policy development. 3D printing provides a way for patrons to learn about
new technology and use that technology to help support learning.
Keywords Academic libraries, 3D printing, 3D technology, Makerspace
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Although it sounds very futuristic, 3D printing has been around for almost 30 years but
has only recently become easily accessible to small businesses, libraries, and even
individuals. There are three different types of 3D printers available. Moorefield-Lang
describes the three different types of printers available to consumers: fused deposition
modeling (FDM) (melting and layering plastic), stereolithography (using ultraviolet light
to solidify an object in photosensitive liquid), and selective laser sintering (powders and
lasers are used to create objects). At the University of Regina Library we are working
with a MakerBot fifth generation printer which is a FDM printer. This type of printing
is the most popular to date, where plastic filament is melted and layered to create
a 3D object (Moorefield-Lang, 2014a). Its popularity is mostly due to a more reasonable
cost and the type of materials used to create 3D objects.
This paper discusses the operational process of the University of Regina Library’s
3D printer, how to implement a 3D printing service, why academic libraries should
provide 3D printing services on campus, some inherent issues that were experienced
during the pilot project, and best practices developed from trial and error during the
pilot phase of our 3D printing project. A basic literature review of current 3D printing
services in libraries will also be provided to give some context for what has been
accomplished with 3D printing in libraries to date.
Background
Review of the literature
FDM 3D printers use an additive process where plastic is melted at high temperatures
and laid down in a specific pattern to create a 3D object (Kurt and Colegrove, 2012).
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 33 No. 4, 2015
pp. 472-479
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-05-2015-0049
Received 13 May 2015
Revised 30 June 2015
Accepted 15 July 2015
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
472
LHT
33,4

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