3D Printing For Students, Staff, and Public at the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library, U. of Nevada, Reno

From an Engadget Article, “The future of higher education: reshaping universities through 3D printing”:

Earlier this year, the [Mackay School of Mines Building at the University of Nevada, Reno] DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library became the first academic library in the United States to provide 3D scanning and printing to all students and faculty, as well as the public. The move is part of a plan by director Tod Colegrove to transform the facility from a typical library that promotes knowledge through books to one that also encourages creative thought and discussion via hands-on technology. With 3D printers jumping from the realm of geek fantasy to something more accessible, Colegrove thought the devices would serve as the perfect vehicle for promoting education and pushing DeLaMare’s evolution.
“If you look back at libraries over 2,000 years — including the Library of Alexandria — you’ll see that they were involved in buying technology that many people cannot afford and making them more accessible,” Colegrove said. “Along the way, it became all about having the biggest and best book collection so you ended up having identical libraries. We lost our way.”
[Clip]
“The students just broke the box open and started printing right away,” said Lisa Kurt, DeLaMare’s engineering and emerging technologies librarian. “They just looked so excited and you could feel this tremendous energy.”

Read the Complete Article
See Also: SparkFun and the DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library
They also offer SparkFun Inventor Kits.
See Also: Chattanooga Public Library Cooking Up Creativity (September 18, 2012)
UPDATE: Learn More About What’s Going On at the Chattanooga Public Library. Visit 4thfloor.chattlibrary.org.
See Also: More About Oak Park Public Library’s “Idea Box” (August 9, 2012)
See Also: New York State: Fayetteville Free Library Now Offers Users Access to MakerBot 3-D Printer (July 19. 2012)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Digital Preservation, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries