Coronavirus: Levittown Library 3D Prints Face Shields For NUMC

LEVITTOWN, NY — The Levittown Public Library is using a unique method to help protect hospital workers from the new coronavirus, enlisting the help of its 3D printer to spin out much-needed face shields amid a looming shortage of vital personal protective equipment.

The library has two 3D printers. Benjie Pancho, an IT worker at the library, brought the smaller one to his home to carry out a Nassau County Library Association initiative to help use the technology to help create essential items for hospital workers. Trina Reed, director of the library, told Patch Monday that Suffolk County libraries are doing a "print farm" where 3D printers borrowed from libraries all set up in a location as a production line. In Nassau County, libraries are printing in individual libraries or in staff members' homes.

"We saw that there was a need and that we had the equipment to help," Reed said.

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On Friday, the black and orange Prusa i3 3D Printer began spinning plastic filament, which looks like a thick fishing line, into headbands for the face shields. The headband design, from 3D Printing Nerd on YouTube, takes about an hour to print. An Epilog Laser Engraver cuts the transparent shield to size, which is then attached by hand to the headbands.

The price per spool of filament is $48, Pancho told Patch in an email.

On Monday, the library delivered 31 masks to pathology and laboratory medical technologists at Nassau University Medical Center. And more are coming; Reed said the printer will continue making shields for as long as needed, and noted the larger —and much heavier — printer can be put to use if necessary.

"It's exciting to see that we’re trying to be a part of the solution," Reed said. She said she's proud of her staff for stepping up to help the community.

The library also offers digital cards to help the community read e-books, watch movies, take online courses, listen to audiobooks and more. Kids can get tutoring and online programming is offered through zoom.

The donations come as the number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in New York climbed to over 130,000 Monday, with the death toll rising to 4,758. Meanwhile, The number of Nassau residents who died from the coronavirus increased by more than 200 over the weekend.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday extended New York's statewide stay-at-home order to April 29.