gregory peck as atticus finch in to kill a mockingbird 1962.jpg

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch defends a black man accused of rape in a scene from the 1962 film ``To Kill a Mockingbird.'' The film will be shown at the Forest Park branch on July 18 at noon in celebration of the publication of its sequel, Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman."

(Universal Pictures)

By JANET STUPAK

Special to The Republican

In March, the Springfield City Library was one of only two Massachusetts' libraries awarded MakerLab Club 3D printers, through the Young Adult Library Services Association, in partnership with 3D Systems. Needless to say, we were, and continue to be, very excited at the possibilities, especially as a draw for teens.

"This was such a great opportunity for our members and the library community," said YALSA President Christopher Shoemaker. "We're sure the chosen recipients will benefit greatly from 3D Systems' generous contributions and will be able to better engage teens through the latest technology to help them build the 21st century digital literacy skills they need to be successful in careers."

Janet Stupak is community relations coordinator for Springfield Public Library.

"3DS is proud to sponsor the MakerLab Club, giving critical equipment, training, and support to libraries and museums across our country," said Neal Orringer, vice president of partnerships and alliances, 3D Systems. "Today, libraries and museums are democratizing making in their local communities and reinforcing their position as key centers of the arts, education, and culture!"

One hundred libraries and museums across the United States are among the first members to receive Cube 3D printers to run programming and workshops with their communities.

According to a variety of sources, the history of 3D printing began in May 1980, in Japan, when Dr. Hideo Kodama filed the first patent application for RP (Rapid Prototyping) technology. Sadly, his full patent description was not filed before the one-year deadline, pretty unbelievable since he was a patent lawyer. So, in 1986, the first actual patent was issued for a stereolithography apparatus to Charles "Chuck" Hull, who invented his SLA machine in 1983. Hull went on to co-found 3D Systems Corp. - one of the largest and most prolific organizations operating in the 3D printing sector today, and maker of the Cube.

In January 2009, the first commercially available 3D printer was available for purchase, using the most common and easily recognized process, deposition. This process extrudes plastics, commonly PLA or ABS, in filament form through a heated extruder to form layers and create the predetermined shape. Because parts can be printed directly, it is possible to produce very detailed and intricate objects, often with functionality built in and negating the need for assembly.

Our 3D Systems Cube (2nd generation) printers will be traveling to Springfield City Library branches this summer, offering opportunities for teens to explore, learn and create. Tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Central Library, an interactive workshop, "Designing in 3D with Tinkercad," will be offered for teens to learn how to build and print their own 3D creations. Tinkercad is an easy-to-use, browser-based CAD (computer-aided design) program that lets you turn ideas into a 3D printable file. At the conclusion of the program, the Cube will print as many participants' designs as we can. The Cube prints three-dimensional objects using compostable plastic. This program is for teens and tweens ages 11 to 18 and space is limited, so please register by calling the library at (413) 263-6828, ext. 425.

There will be a demo of the Cube on July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Springfield branch, 21 Osborne Terrace. Come by and watch as the printer creates a chess piece and learn more about 3D prototyping in this drop-in demonstration.

The Cube and "Designing in 3D with Tinkercad" will be available to teens at the Indian Orchard Branch, 44 Oak St., from Aug. 3-6. A 3D printer demo will be held Aug. 12 and "Designing in 3D with Tinkercad" will be held on Aug. 15 for teens at the East Forest Park Branch Library.

Blender is a free and open source 3D creation suite that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline - modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation. We'll have laptops available, but you are also welcome to bring your own. Tweens and teens ages 11 and up should stop by the Indian Orchard Branch for more information and to sign up.

Focusing on one dimension, the printed page, the Forest Park Branch Library will celebrate the release of "Go Set a Watchman," the long-awaited sequel to Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiographical novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," with a screening of the 1962 film adaptation on Saturday from noon to 2:15 p.m. Set in a small Alabama town in the 1930s, the story focuses on scrupulously honest, highly respected lawyer Atticus Finch, magnificently embodied by Gregory Peck. Finch puts his career on the line when he agrees to represent Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a black man accused of rape. The trial and the events surrounding it are seen through the eyes of Finch's 6-year-old daughter, Scout (Mary Badham). Light refreshments will be served. Copies of "Go Set a Watchman" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" will be available for checkout after the screening.

It's mid-July and Summer Reading Club is in full swing for all ages - this week's drop- in program for children at our branches is a Scavenger Hunt: Saving the World? Savor a Treat! Kids will love it. Adults and teens are playing library bingo and winning prizes ... have you joined yet? Stop in to any Springfield City Library branch for details, and visit us at springfieldlibrary.org to see all events taking place at our library locations.

Everyone belongs at the library this summer, where our programs and events are always free.

The Springfield City Library column appears monthly in Neighborhoods Plus. For information about the library and its programs, call Janet Stupak, community relations coordinator, at (413) 263-6828, ext. 422, or visit springfieldlibrary.org.