Digitizing and 3D Printing the Collection at the Smithsonian Museum

 Escobedo, Xavier

Adam Savage’s Tested. (2019, September 2). Digitizing Objects from Smithsonian’s Enormous Collection! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgqv-MKbogQ

https://3d.si.edu/explore

Summary

The Smithsonian has 155 million artifacts in its collection and less than 1% is ever on display. The Smithsonian is now scanning many items from their collection that would never be seen by the public, and uploading a digitized copy on their website. The public can interact with these artifacts on the Smithsonian 3D digitization page, as well as download 3D printing information so they may print the artifact with their own machine. Artifacts are digitized are by photogrammetry, structure light scanning, and with the FARO Design Scanarm, which shoots lasers to capture the geometry of an object. Educators are able to print their own replica of historical objects and use the 3D printed model for instructional purposes. Inquisitive individuals can comb through the collection and have a fun time learning about various historical artifacts. It is a great way to showcase the Smithsonian’s extensive collection that would otherwise go unseen by the public. 

Evaluation

Digitizing the historical artifacts in the Smithsonian collection further preserves the materials by making them available to the public through the internet. While some historical artifacts may eventually disintegrate, they will now be forever preserved in their digital form and may even have their replicas 3D printed for future generations. Digitizing and 3D printing are great ways for the public to interact with objects that would normally be behind a glass or stored in a warehouse. The bulk of the collection that is stored and never made available to the public now has a new breath of life and helps the museum stay relevant through online visitors.

The tools used for digitizing materials are expensive, but it would be interesting to see if other museums begin digitizing their collection for the public. 

Maybe... just maybe... those European museums could digitize and 3D print their entire collection and eventually give back all the original artifacts that were stolen. 

Pretty cool technology though, jokes aside. 

What is the EdHub? A 21st century learning commons

Posted by: Megan Enger

APA Citation: 

Boss, S. (2017, December 7). A small town school embraces a big vision. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/small-town-school-embraces-big-vision/

Summary: This Edutopia resource explains how Superintendent Buddy Barry transformed a high school with declining enrollment in Eminence, Kentucky: by identifying the needs of a 21st century learner, he helped create the “EdHub” and transform not only enrollment numbers but the whole community. A nickel tax raised $6 million dollars and renovated the entire building to look more like Google’s headquarters than a traditional high school. Materials for student checkouts still include books, but also power tools and robotics equipment. There are eight makerspaces and opportunities for dual enrollment through the local community college. This article also includes three embedded videos showing the EdHub in action and with testimonials from students, teachers, and administrators; one video gives an overview of the space, another focuses on the Early College Program, and another showcases a hands-on learning project.

Evaluation: This article is a fantastic starting place for those interested in learning about the EdHub. It comes from a reputable source and succinctly explains how Buddy Barry accomplished such a transformation. The videos are a nice bonus that clearly illustrate the community impact. Even schools with small footprints and smaller budgets will be inspired by the EdHub–it asks us all to reconsider how the library can still be the hub of the school and envisions a 21st century learning commons to best serve student needs. Those wanting to learn more about the EdHub should check out their website, especially for Eminence’s mini-credential program that is structured like merit badges (earned when students demonstrate competency in things like 3D printing and stop motion). Additionally, Dr. Loertscher interviewed the EdHub’s librarian and an ELA teacher turned “integration specialist” who speak to the value of having a dedicated staff supporting this community.

A university-wide collaborative effort to designing a makerspace at an academic health sciences library

Herron, J., & Kaneshiro, K. (2017). A university-wide collaborative effort to designing a makerspace at an academic health sciences library. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 36(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2017.1259878

Summary:

Herron and Kaneshiro’s article presents the process taken by the Ruth Lilly Medical Library’s new Tech Team at the Indiana University School of Medicine in designing and creating a makerspace. A heavy emphasis is made on the collaboration between the Tech Team and a variety of campus groups and departments. The paper is structured in a way that parallels the steps in which the Tech Team took in their process. First, conducting an environmental scan consisted of accumulating resources, meeting with other staff members with 3D printing expertise, and identifying who would be potential user groups. This collaborative step of speaking with students, staff, and faculty informed the Tech Team’s proposed focus for the makerspace to provide a gateway to 3D printing and prototyping. The team promoted the new service through word of mouth, sample prints, and an opportunity fair while the physical space was renovated to better serve as a makerspace. This paper offers a comprehensive synthesis of the collaborative process taken by the Tech Team in designing and building a successful makerspace within an academic library. 

Evaluation:

The relevance of Herron and Kaneshiro’s article lies in its value to academic libraries who are at the beginning of their journey to design and build their own makerspaces. The emphasis on collaboration between library staff and other university members provides valuable insight for library staff unfamiliar with makerspaces as they can gain a network of connections in their own campus community. Another significant takeaway from this article is how the Tech Team strategized to differentiate their new space from other similar 3D printing labs in the university. This resource can help library staff to position their own makerspaces in relation to specialized academic libraries, such as medical academic libraries in this case.

COVID-19 and Library Trends

Maw, Laura 

LM 

SJSU School of Information. (2020, May 26). Library issues and trends: Before, during, and after COVID-19 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDy_CZZkjI

In this video presented by San Jose State University’s (SJSU’s) Leadership and Management Program Advisory Committee, current library trends were discussed, including trends in management and leadership, services, technology, and the library workforce. In terms of service trends, small scale pilots and experimental services have become even more important in an uncertain world. Also, the ability to use technology in libraries, such as 3-D printers, to help communities develop needed items like personal protection equipment, demonstrates the necessity for libraries to pivot services and resources to meet community needs. In the same vein, online learning services have increased as more people need to use tools online for learning. Further, YouTube service models are enabling services like story time to reach wider audiences as people can view the recorded video when it is convenient for them. 

I agree that library staff’s innovation and creativity are even more salient in a changing or uncertain world. Community members depend on their librarians to lead their community through change in a positive way, which in turn, instills community acceptance of the change.

To 3D or not to 3D: Is practicality the question?

Guzman, Laura
Fall 2016

Becker, B. W. (2016). To 3D or not to 3D: Is practicality the question?. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 35(2), 83-86.

Summary:

This article talks about the differing opinions concerning 3D printing in academic libraries.  When a new technology is introduced into a library, controversy usually arises shortly after.  One new technological trend is 3D printing.  The maker culture is increasing in popularity, which is a do-it-yourself approach to creating objects with open-source software and hardware.  Certain librarians have objected to this trend saying that 3D printing has nothing to do with the business of libraries which is information storage and retrieval.  

While there is not much academic literature out there on the subject, academic libraries have started to use case studies to defend their use of 3D printing.  The case studies have shown that 3D printing can bring more students into the library and introduce them to other library services.  The studies also show that students are using the printers in direct relation to assignments and research projects and that their experiences can apply to job training. 

The academic library is no longer bound to traditional information storage and retrieval; it has become in addition to this a collaborative work and social space.  Students are using 3D printing to support their studies, collaborate with others, and visualize big data.  

Evaluation: 

I think that libraries are certainly more than just information storage and retrieval and that an important emerging aspect of libraries deals with providing collaboration spaces and resources.   Makerspaces, media labs, data visualization labs, and any other kind of technological labs will be of great importance to college students.  

Arduino Kits, Bakeware and LEGOs...Oh My!

Mejdrich, K. & Buss, E., & Lax, B. (2015). Arduino kits, bakeware and LEGOs…oh my!. OLA Quarterly, 20(4), 9-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.20.04

Summary: The Hillsboro Public Library has been looking for innovative ways in which to expand library services to the patrons. By being innovative and seeking different ways in which to bring patrons in to the library by finding new ways to circulate non-traditional items in the library such as the Arduino kits that were donated to the library. After seeing the success of the Arduino kits, then more programs were created to bring bridge the gap between kids, teens, adults, and grandparents working together with LEGOs infusing the kids use of their creative skills. After realizing that there is only so much creativity that can be done by encouraging people to use the library, the Hillsboro Public Library staff thought of ways in which to circulate items that patrons might only use once or twice throughout the year that could benefit the community as a whole. That is when the thought occurred of circulating bakeware items that would encourage patrons to use them at home and share their creations on social media. At the time this article was published the bakeware items had only been circulating 2 months, and been very successful and looking for additional items to be added to the collection.

Response: Being a part of this same cooperative that the Hillsboro Public Library is at, I can see first hand how popular these special collections have become and how excited the patrons are to see them. This summer, the most popular item was the ice cream maker that the library was circulating in their library.