AIC's 45th Annual Meeting

3-D printers and Makerspaces are a growing presence in libraries. While frequently marketed as a service to students and community members, 3-D printers [also referred to as Rapid Prototyping (RP) or FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)] can be used by conservators and exhibition designers to produce affordable custom book mounts from stable, recyclable polymers. The University of Florida's Smathers Libraries are experimenting with printing custom mounts for temporary exhibitions. Rather than purchasing generic, expensive plexi mounts, they are designed in-house, using freely available Computer-Aided Design and Drawing (CAD) software to fit unique openings of selected volumes. The mounts are printed in house on one of the Libraries' FFF printers using commercially available polymers.

This presentation will explore the Smathers Libraries' process for designing mounts, selecting polymers, printing process, and cost analysis, from the point of view of the conservator, exhibit designer, and university librarian. The presenters will also discuss issues with and limitations to the current procedures, including the possibility of recycling the mounts following exhibition into reusable filament.