Coronavirus: Port Washington Library 3D Prints Face Shields

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — The Port Washington Public Library closed its doors to the public to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, but staffers are using technology to help local first responders and medical professionals during the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Specifically: a pair of 3D printers.

James Hutter and Melanie Davidoff, both technology librarians at the Main Street library, have contacts throughout Nassau County with people who do 3D printing. About two weeks ago, they decided they wanted to get all the libraries in the county to start making personal protective equipment for hospitals and first responders, Hutter told Patch on Wednesday. After talking to the Port Washington-Manhasset Office of Emergency Management and local hospitals, the library decided to start making face shields, considered the highest-priority piece of equipment.

"Those in particular are very much in need right now," Hutter said.

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Melanie Davidoff, a technology librarian, told Patch she wheeled two of the library's three 3D printers to her home, which is near the Main Street building. The printers are about 1 square foot and weigh just 10 pounds. She's primarily using a MakerBot 3D printer to produce visors for face shields, as well as a Prusa machine. A single reel of filament at the top is fed into the machine and can make about 15 visors, which are then manually attached to the transparent shields. The machines, which sit in her home and run all day, are quiet, she said, and don't disrupt daily life. The Port Washington library uses a design approved by the National Health Institute. It's different than the design used at the Levittown Public Library, which has a laser engraver that it uses to make more components.

"We're using a design that gives us a little bit more flexibility, and we can use some off-the-shelf components, particularly the face shield itself," Hutter said.

Last week, about 30 face shields were made by the Port Washington Public Library and delivered to the emergency management office to be distributed. A batch of 22 has already been produced this week and will be delivered at the end of the week. The shields are ultimately given to first responders and hospitals in the area.

Keith Klang, the library director, told Patch the library previously donated supplies to the county drive but felt the shields made by the 3D printers should go to local first responders — people who need it most and are closer to home.

The library is operating at nearly at full capacity, but has transitioned mainly to online services, offering more remote programs, classes for those trying to learn English as a second languish and buying more electronic resources such as e-books and downloadable audiobooks.

"We are basically working as a library without a building right now," Klang said.

Furthermore the library plans to make general wellness calls to seniors in the community most impacted by the pandemic, and reach out to students to ensure they know what online resources are at their disposal, such as food bank and health information.

"We're really trying to provide a social safety net that we do every day in our building and just extend that into the community," Klang said.

Klang thanked the Friends of the Port Washington Public Library organization, which provides supplemental funding, bought the 3D printers originally and has provided filament for the library.

"They've supported a lot of our technology initiatives, including our 3D printing," Klang said.

He said the Nassau County Library Association has also helped share information about face shields and the need for them, as well as coordinate with all the libraries.

When asked how it feels to be making face shields for first responders during a pandemic, Klang said it's very unusual and "out-of-left-field," but noted the community expects its librarians to help its residents.

"We always try and adapt to what the community needs, and that's what the community needs right now," he said.

Hutter added that from a tech perspective, they've had the 3D printers for a while and knew the possibilities were extraordinary from the get-go.

"People in the community have been like, 'have you seen you can 3D print an ear' or a nose and things like that, and it always seemed kind of foreign. Now we've got these printers and we're using them to actually print devices to protect people from coronavirus," he said. "It's really hit home.