Rochester Hills Public Library Steps Up Against Coronavirus

ROCHESTER HILL, MI — Rochester Hills Public Library staff are stepping up to help those on the front lines in combating the new coronavirus.

Staff has begun using the library's 3D printers to create face shields. According to a press release issued Friday, staff downloaded design files and are printing and assembling the shields at their individual homes.

“The Rochester Hills Public Library has always been a champion of the entrepreneur and our current health crisis has us thinking like innovators,” Library Director Juliane Morian said. “Knowing that we have the resources to print face shields, we reached out to other makerspace professionals to learn the best ways to get this critical personal protection equipment into the hands of area health professionals. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate.”

Eureka Lab/Makerspace Specialist Tierney Czartoski says she can print one shield visor every two hours and has been printing them for the past week. The face masks include a visor, plastic shield, and a fastener. The goal is to make 75-100 completed masks to donate to area hospitals.

Libraries across Michigan have joined the home effort to produce face shields using their 3D printers. The Rochester Hills Public Library donated the materials used to create the face shields.