Printing of the future... 3D Printing

One of the emerging technologies in the library world is 3D printing.  According to writer Marcia Goodrich, 3D printing is makes things by laying down sub-millimeter-thin layers of plastic one after another in a specific pattern (p 9).  According to Amazon.com you can purchase and assemble a 3D printer for $350.00 (http://www.amazon.com/Printrbot-Simple-Printer-Filament-1-75mm/dp/B00HLSR0O8/ref=sr_1_135?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1398891791&sr=1-135&keywords=3d+printer+kit ).

An industrial sized 3D printer by 3D Systems is $1,300. A 3D printer can produce full-scale, physical prototypes that let designers and engineers assess how new parts and devices will look, feel, assemble, and behave (Brown, 2014, p 28). As 3D printers are becoming more affordable, libraries are adding them to their technology collection. According to author Steve Pryor, “ … the “maker” and open-source movements have taken on the concept and provided plans and software for hobbyists to build their own 3D printers inexpensively with readily available parts (p 1-2).

As libraries are offering their patrons 3D printing, people are able to make their own designs and parts.  Users can be charged to use the printer and the materials.   The materials used are ABS plastics, PLA, polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, sterolithographary materials, silver, titanium, wax, photopolymers, and polycarbonate (www.3ders.org, 2014, sec 13).  A library does not have to use the more expensive material. The Lovejoy Library in Illinois charges $1.00 per hour of printing, and the user has to come up with their own designs (Pryor, 2014, p 5).

Offering 3D printing services at the library is the future for libraries to offer not only information but also resources. The prediction for 3D printers is that by 2016 the average cost of an industrial 3D printer will be a little over $5000 (Brown, 2014, p 29).  Library users by 2016 will be very familiar with 3D printing in their community library.  They will be able make and design in 3D.

References

Brown, A. S. (2014). BY THE NUMBERS: A BIG FORECAST FOR 3-D PRINTERS.
                Mechanical Engineering, 136(2), 28-29.

Goodrich, M. (2014). 3D Revolution. Research (Michigan Technological University), 8-11.

Pryor, S. (2014) Implementing a 3D Printing Service in an Academic Library, Journal of                       Library Administration, 54:1, 1-10, DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2014.893110

www.3ders.org. (2014, ). 3ders.org from http://www.3ders.org/3d-printing-basics.html 

Electronic Resources at my Library

As I read about electronic resources and databases that libraries subscribe to, I began to think about having unlimited access to resources at all times without being in a library.  Electronic resources are a service that is provided by libraries for patrons to use in or outside of libraries.  Being a student that lives far from my campus, I think about how I access all of my material, and have 24/7 access to material through the VSU library. Valdosta State subscribes to many electronic resources, especially databases. 

Through Valdosta I have access to GALIELO. GALIELO is the GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online (GALILEO, 2014).  Libraries and education institutions have access to GALILEO, which include access to over 100 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 10,000 journal titles are provided in full-text. Other resources include encyclopedias, business directories, and government publications (GALILEO, 2014). On top of what Valdosta offers, Valdosta also subscribes to more journals and databases that can only be accessed by logging into my VSU Any Where Access.

As I thought about having anywhere access through my university, I thought about the access at my local library.  My local library has the same GALIELO access, but with fewer databases than VSU, but they still have the same quality journal articles and resources that may be hard to find or purchase individual.  I do not have anywhere access, but when I go into the library I can show my library card and get a pass code that allows me to enter the database. 

With electronic resources for libraries, the access for patrons is ideal.  GALILEO works with publishers and databases such as EBSCO and ProQuest, but the cost is substantial. Libraries do have to pay subscription cost for having access to the journals and databases they purchase.  It can get costly when adding e-books and purchasing access to journals.  Libraries are providing a service for patrons even as the cost have risen over the years.  GALILEO is a great resource that is funded through education in the state of Georgia. Overall, electronic resources is vital to libraries because the accessing these resources 24/7.  

References

GALILEO. (2014). About the Initiative. Retrieved from GALILEO: An Iniitiative of the University of Georgia: http://about.galileo.usg.edu/