Concho Valley News

SAN ANGELO – Tom Green County Library is pulling together its workers, its resources and the community to provide local medical workers with 3D-printed personal protection equipment that is needed while they are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The library has two 3D printers from its STEAM Central Makerspace digital zones working around the clock to produce 16 face shield headbands per day, as well as sewing machines to make facemask protectors. The design holds the reusable medical issued masks and helps extend their life-use. 

"As soon as we heard that there was a shortage in our own community, we knew right away with the machines that we have that's something not only that we could do, but that we should be doing," Amy Dennis, community relations coordinator for the library, told the Concho Valley homepage. "We were contacted by a coordinator in the medical community to make these because they knew we have the 3D printers. We have two printers in the Makerspace, and we're using those to make the headbands that go on the face shields."

Donating businesses were connected with community members by "Art in Uncommon Places" member Julie Raymond to help gather the donated materials and assemble the shields and sew masks. A retired nurse, Sarah Hill, was able to provide a hospital approved pattern for the mask protectors.  

"We're using our sewing machines, quilting cotton and elastic," Dennis said, according to the news agency. "They're pleated, and they have pockets with a mask insert. We teamed up with Sarah Hill, a retired labor and delivery nurse. She showed us a cool pattern that is a quilted cotton mask with an insertable pouch where you can place your mask that you have to use every day. We are working ... to make sure their nurses are covered. There's also janitors, housekeeping and maintenance. Everybody has to be careful right now, so having those masks for them is awesome."

If there is anyone that would like to assist in this community PPE-making project, they can contact the library for supplies and patterns for making the designs, which, when completed, can be dropped off at the library loading dock for distribution.

The equipment being used to make the masks is from the STEAM Central Makerspace that provides technology science education and virtual rooms for those interested in learning about new technologies. The library is also lending iPads and other equipment to Angelo State University to assist in providing education to students during this time.