Catalyst Grant Final Report
“Establishing Eloquent Enrichment”
Please provide a brief narrative explaining your project and its outcomes.
The 2024 Catalyst Grant allowed SUNY Morrisville library to purchase a 3-D printer with 2 sets of filament. We have established a 3-D printing policy that has allowed us to utilize a portion of student tech fees to purchase additional filament and cleaning supplies to maintain the 3-D printer. The printer has been popular with our RPG (roleplaying games) group, with over 73 prints: it’s been used by students joining D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) games, for projects including a 3-D printed controller replacement and Winter Soldier (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier) arm for a costume, and for drop-in D&D games. The Cricut machine has been used to make award ribbons for library events and is very popular with R.A. (resident advisor) students. We hosted a “Bob Ross Style” painting event, pumpkin painting, and several Escape Room events. The board games, sewing machine/kit, and Cricut machine are available for loan and have been popular the past two semesters.
What is the most remarkable accomplishment or finding of your project?
The creativity of projects that have been submitted has been very fun to see. Participation in Escape Rooms
and painting events have drawn more interest than some of the board game and craft night events we had tried to offer in the past. Patrons have really appreciated the ability to borrow these new items. The Cricut maker has been popular with our R.A. students, has been used for events, and has been loaned 8 times. The sewing machine has been loaned 10 times as well as used in the library.
How did your project differ from what you originally proposed?
The project aligned closely to what was originally proposed. We were not able to engage the outside community as much as we had originally intended, but all items purchased are available to anyone who requests a SUNY Morrisville library card.
Please provide a brief summary of your evaluation activities and/or results, if available.
All 3-D printing requests must be submitted to our librarians. To date, we have had 73 requests for D&D figures, a Winter Soldier arm, a game controller cover, and 16 requests for 3-D printed figures/desk decorations. We have hosted several Escape Room game events, including a rotational Escape Room on Halloween. These events were well attended, as were the “Bob Ross Style” painting and pumpkin painting events. We have promoted our new items on bookmarks, blogs, and kiosk signage. Items available for loan are circulating and we have plans to continue to host events and promote these items in our library programming.
Anything else you’d like us to know?
This project has allowed us to offer new programming and technology to our community that was not previously available. We have enjoyed utilizing this equipment to develop new events and library programming that increase engagement and draw interest to our library. We are very thankful to have had this opportunity, and look forward to continuing to grow our programming and bring patrons into our library with these “eloquent enrichment” items.
Katie Nolan
Administrative Assistant, SUNY Morrisville
Are you interested in applying for a Catalyst Grant? Check out the grant page for the rules & requirements!
