2022-05-06 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 10, Issue 3
Featured Story
3D printing for accessibility!
Universal Core Vocabulary 3D Symbol Format Project Core (project-core.com)
3D printing at the library can be a mixed bag. We tend to print the same designs and types of designs repeatedly. While this is great, and patrons love to print and receive different designs of Pokémon and flexi-animal designs, I’m always excited when a type of print comes through that I’ve never seen before.
Recently a patron submitted a print for a type of 3d-printed communication device. It was an odd-looking triangle, with words and braille printed on the triangle. I had never seen anything like it. Looking into the print led me to Project Core, and the Universal Core Communication System.
The Universal Core vocabulary system is a set of 36 different single words that can be used by themselves or in multiple words to combine to express a large variety of ideas and topics. There are many formats available that help communicate with those who have visual impairments. All tools and formats are free to download and print and there are many different options. The website also gives guidance for both parents and schools on how to implement the system.
Each symbol takes our 3d printer about 2 hours to print, and about 17 grams of PLA material. Being able to provide 3d printing services to the community and assist in these kinds of projects reinvigorates my love of 3d design. Check out The Universal Core Communication system at project-core.com.
– Mike Sloan
Fail Forward
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.
Less is More
Coco Chanel is quoted as saying, “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” I think the same thing is true of most things we create — lesson plans, emails, vacation itineraries. However, I recently forgot this in a big way. Earlier this year, I signed up to give a workshop for Money Smart Week 2022. I’ve wanted to do this for several years and got pretty excited so while drafting my lesson plan, I got really carried away. I listed 6 (six!) lesson objectives for a 50 minute workshop in the description. Yikes! I’m now actually creating my workshop and will pick one or two of those objectives to address and provide resources for the rest. I suppose there is still time to “take one thing off.”
– Jessica Martinez
Crush Corner
Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
House of Culture in Stockholm
The services and programs of the library often fill in where other public institutions fall short. The lonely, the homeless, the children whose single parents are working two jobs to pay rent: all are welcomed. This is evident in the library of the House of Culture in Stockholm, where visitors can be seen relaxing. The House of Culture building comprises of restaurants, exhibition rooms, conference rooms, concert rooms, cinema and a library. Many people come to the library to just sit, rest and relax. Teens in my community have come to the library asking for places to relax (relaxing so much that they fall asleep and feel safe doing so). I love that this House of Culture in Stockholm has many different venues including a library and a space for people to relax and recharge their energy.
– Eric Hovey
SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-246156-OLS-20). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.