Updates

The Technology and Education Center (TEC) at the Orlando Public Library is celebrating its newest award presented at the Florida Library Association Conference.  The Exemplary Learning Design Award was presented to honor the Library’s  community achievement in Employment Preparation for Job Seekers.  In partnership with Workforce Central Florida, library staff created a comprehensive curriculum, including Resume Writing and Job Interviewing Skills.  The TEC looks forward  to continuing development of new and exciting technology workshops in preparation for the DLM-TIC. Stay tune weekly for new updates.

On Thursday, April 18, the Orange County Library System was honored with a 2012 Golden Brick Award from the Downtown Orlando Partnership for the Kendrick Melrose Major Gift Announcement in the development of the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation & Creativity. The announcement unveiled the single largest gift in the library’s history which will make way for a high-tech center at the downtown library. The awards are given to projects which positively impact the Downtown Development District. The Golden Brick Awards recognize outstanding contributions to downtown that demonstrate excellence and achievement. For over two decades, these awards have been distributed for projects which positively impact the Downtown Development District. The DLM-TIC is currently in development with an anticipated opening date of early Spring 2014.

Staff are eagerly anticipating the opening of the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center in Spring 2014. Design details are being finalized. Construction is anticipated to begin this summer. In early April we’ll begin to see real signs of progress! We’ll be rearranging computers in the current Technology and Education Center and putting up a construction wall to help contain noise and dust. For now we continue to work on content for the new Center and are already offering curriculum in 3D printing and beginning electronics with Snap Circuits.

This week, library staff members were excited to unpack and set the MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer to work.  Made in Brooklyn, NY, the Replicator 2 prints 3D objects designed in CAD software.  It has a build volume of 410 cubic inches and completes 3D objects by layering PLA filament at temperatures of up to 240◦C.  Staff members made this awesome bracelet in just 12 minutes.  You can also download and build items from the Thingiverse website, or design your very own!

So, what will you design on our 3D printer?  Watch this space for 3D designing and printing workshops—coming soon–at the Orlando Public Library.