Library getting new rooms, programs, name
SAXONBURG — Changes are coming to the Saxonburg Library: new equipment, new rooms, new programs and even a new name.
The library at 240 W. Main St. will soon be known as the South Butler Community Library.
“The name change will take effect as soon as everything is in place. I sent the paperwork in a while ago,” said Erin Wincek, library director. “It should be before the end of summer.”
Wincek said the library first needed to get approval from the state, then from Saxonburg Borough.
Wincek said the library board of trustees made the decision to change the name last month.
Matt Phillips, one of the trustees on the nine-member board, said the new name change will better reflect the library's range of patrons.
“There was a lot of discussion, but the new name ultimately represents who we are trying to serve,” Phillips said. “We are trying to make sure the surrounding communities know we are not just serving Saxonburg. We are serving the south Butler region as a whole.”
Wincek said the library service area includes Jefferson, Penn, Winfield, Buffalo and Clinton townships, as well as the borough.
Wincek said the new name is in line with the South Butler School District's area.
Along with the new name, the library recently received a new Afinia 3D printer, a donation from Michelle and Larry Lesniak of Authentic Craftworks of Butler.
“It's a teaching tool. We'll be showing people of all ages how the printer works,” said Wincek, adding she hoped to be able to take the 3D printer on visits to schools and nursing homes.
“We're going to teach 3D design,” said Wincek.
“It's an additive manufacturing process,” said Michelle Lesniak of Penn Township, whose business makes custom wood products such as handweaving looms.
“Typically, if you needed to make a stainless steel product, you would cut away anything you don't need,” Lesniak said.“A 3D printer only uses the material it needs. It eliminates all the waste,” said Lesniak.The printer uses plastic filament to make a three-dimensional object from a three-dimensional model Lesniak said, but other printers can make objects out of metals, food or even living tissue.Wincek said there is already a waiting list for classes in 3D printing.The printer is housed in the library's new teen room, along with a smart TV, computers and chalkboard wall.The teen room opened in June in the space of the old children's room, which was moved into space once occupied by the library's used book store, which itself was moved to a smaller space.The teen room will serve as the location for Maker Camp, a virtual builder's camp, which began meeting this week.“We are one of only 100 super affiliates in the world selected,” said Wincek of the project of Google Plus and Maker magazine. The status brought with it a $500 grant for materials.“The camp is focused on making, doing, creating. It's not all technology,” said Wincek.“It basically teaches 13- to 18-year-olds a daily project to do working alone and a weekly project working together. It can be something really simple to something complex like a bicycle powered iPad charger,” said Wincek.The Maker Camp participants will meet at the library at 2 p.m. Mondays from now until Aug. 18 to work on larger projects together. The camp will include virtual field trips and sharing projects and photos on the Internet.The camps and other events have increased traffic in the library, said Katie Lindsey, a staff member. “There are so many more people in here.”Wincek said the increased visits have shown up in increased circulation of library materials, which were up 27 percent for June from the previous month.“It's definitely the programs that we have, the children's room, the teen room, all the new things,” said Lindsey. “I think the library just has this really positive vibe.”“There's a lot of good things going on right now,” said Phillips.
