A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from September 11 to September 16.

Back in July, we covered a story about 3D printing coming to a Nevada public library. The University of Nevada engineering library became the first in the nation to offer 3D printing resources to the public. At On3dPrinting, we think this is a trend that is going to continue.

But some do not agree. We came across an editorial post at PublicLibrariesNews.com, where the author posts about why libraries will not make a good install base for 3D printing.

What I’m curious about is its impact on public libraries.

The theory goes that public libraries will provide great spaces for 3D printers.  Libraries have always provided material for the benefit of the community for those who cannot afford it and 3D printing, on the face of it, seems to fit right in.  Libraries are also in the centre of most communities, have space (as long, presumably,  as one gets rid of those pesky books) to hold them and have helpful staff that could show you how to use 3D printers.  I’m not aware of any UK library having one as yet but, in the USA, several libraries already have one and they’re feeling pretty cocky about being on the crest of the technological wave.

That’s right up to a point but let’s go deeper.  For one thing, even now, a pre-assembled 3D printer can be purchased for $500.  That’s barely over £300.  That’s just about fine for libraries now. They provide computers precisely for people who can’t afford similar amounts of money after all.  However, these prices are at the start of the technological revolution.  Last year, one had to spend perhaps $1000. You can see where this is going.  3D printers are going to be cheap.  Really cheap.  Cheap enough that everyone who wants one is going to have one.  There’ll be no need for libraries  to provide them for the poor because everyone will own them, like the ubiquitous smartphone.  Be prepared to see “Happy Birthday Wayne” 3D banners on roundabouts. Perhaps there was a time when it would have made sense for libraries, therefore, to provide 3D printers to the populace but that time has already effectively gone even before most of us were really aware of the possibility.

The other selling point for libraries in this is that we have friendly staff who will be able to help people in learning how to use them. That may be so in some branches of course.  However, I’m willing to bet that right now the majority of staff working in libraries have not even heard of 3D printers.  A lot of library staff frankly need to be more highly trained in Word, let alone the next disruptive technology. Moreover, libraries are in no position to help anyone.  The current cuts mean that there is never been such a difficult time for libraries to justify gambling on such a new technology.  It would be an act of desperation. An act of desperation, that is, unless there was a national investment programme to get 3D printers into libraries and the political will not only to do that but to train staff in the bargain.  With the current belief in austerity and, on the side of all main political parties, in the free market and localism, that is simply not going to happen.

What do you think? Weigh in with your own comments.

Public library photo by wallyg used under Creative Commons license.