Hamptons-Based Library Joins The Effort To Make Protective Gear For Healthcare Workers

As the critical need for personal protective equipment (PPE) increases, John Jermain Library in Sag Harbor has risen to the occasion by purchasing a 3D printer that will be utilized to create face shields for healthcare workers.

“John Jermain is one of the participating libraries in a coordinated all-county effort to print face shields for medical personnel,” Catherine Creedon, John Jermain Memorial Library Director, explained. “In these crazy times, it is an honor to be part of a profession that has found a way to work together for the common good.”

Through the countywide initiative, with other libraries and the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS), a “print farm” focused on face shields has been established. “Our printer is one of 60 printers from libraries that have been set up at our system headquarters where they are printing upwards of 200 shields a day for Stony Brook Hospital,” Creedon shared. The printers are currently housed at SCLS for the time being, working on the vital items that protect Long Island’s medical staff. Afterwards, the printer will be transported to John Jermain.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that medical personal don full face shields to protect both themselves and their patients.

Once completed, the 3D printed headgear is brought to Stony Brook University for assembly.

Stony Brook University is also leading their own efforts through the University’s iCREATE to produce protective face shields using 3D printers. The idea came from Judith Greiman, Chief Deputy to the President and Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations, who had read an article about an upstate New York company that was printing face shields on a 3D printer. She asked Charlie McMahon, Interim Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Enterprise CIO for Stony Brook University, if that was a possibility at Stony Brook University. And, in fact, it was.

After procuring the needed materials, the University set out to make a prototype. Once established, the University got down to business.

And, because local libraries have joined the cause, their output has more than doubled. “By having them bring together the 40-50 printers in one location, it drastically increases the capacity that we can make, by going from 50-60 a day to near 150-200 a day,” David Ecker, director iCreate, Stony Brook University, shared. “This is a big difference and makes a huge impact on keeping our healthcare workers safe.”

“iCREATE is excited about the inclusion of the local libraries being involved. It really shows a whole Long Island community effort in responding to the needs of Stony Brook Hospital and the medical professionals on the front lines dealing with this emergency,” Ecker added.

In addition to focusing on printing face shields, John Jermain Library is offering a myriad of virtual programming. “We have a lot of other resources available for the community as well,” Creedon shared. For those that don’t already have a library card, they can get a temporary card online that is valid for 90 days.

Online Library resources include homework help, digital magazines, e-books, audiobooks, databases, newspapers, and more. There are also specific sections for all age groups – adults, kids, and teens.

For more information about John Jermain Library, visit www.johnjermain.org. For more information about Stony Brook University, visit stonybrook.edu.