The Place of Additive Manufacturing in Libraries: Case Study at the UCL and Sustainability Considerations

Details

Supervisors

Belleflamme, Paul ; Lejeune, Christophe

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] en Ingénieur de gestion

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies are progressively making their way in the modern society as a new method to create objects layer by layer from digital data. Even though Charles Hull developed the technology in 1984, the mass adoption of 3D printing only started recently with the disruptive innovation of desktop 3D printers. The arrival of cheaper entry-level personal fabrication machines on the market emphasized rapid prototyping practices and accentuated the development of Do-It- Yourself movements like Fablabs and Makerspaces. A larger public now starts using desktop 3D printers as their performance continuously improves and their prices decrease. Educational institutions and libraries in Anglo-Saxon and Nordic countries have also demonstrated a keen interest for 3D printing projects in the last years. The purpose of this thesis is to understand how Belgian libraries, which tend to be followers rather than early adopters of the trend, are concerned by AM technologies. More precisely, how academic libraries of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) should react to this new disruptive technology. Sustainability in AM is also considered, as the topic starts to concern universities who could perhaps play a role in defining missing sustainability guidelines. Firstly, the author reviews the literature about AM in libraries and sustainability in AM. Secondly, he examines the potential implementation of 3D printers in libraries with a qualitative case study at the UCL. The design of 3D printing services in libraries speaks to many people’s imagination. However, making the best use of 3D printers requires more than just putting a machine in a room. Understanding user needs, developing relations with local Fablabs and sharing experiences with libraries abroad is necessary to offer tailored services to library patrons. Education and research institutions also have a great role to play in defining future AM sustainability practices. This case study makes an original contribution to a nascent topic of the AM literature. It provides clear answers and recommendations to UCL librarians while setting up a good ground for further research and more general theories about the dynamics of personal fabrication technologies in academic libraries.