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LIBRARY UPDATE: “Circuitry Explored”

June 15, 2019 By Salmon Library Staff Leave a Comment

Life Long Learners

One of my favorite stories so far:

It’s a rare thing to be in a position in life where you’re in a career of work that was NEVER on your radar, yet magically ticks all the boxes you’ve dreamed of. How so?

As a rule of thumb, I always have goals & objectives, and I imagine scenarios where if X happens, the mark has been hit. Sometimes you can feel it coming, sometimes it catches you off guard. Part of what I love to do is transform what is possible. Finding different ways to cast a wider net to incorporate more community members that don’t come to the library to pay us a visit. One such way was introducing different forms of technology that captured the imagination of one such patron.

Last fall/winter Switch​ hosted a series of Adult Tech classes showcasing the different services and ways patrons can take advantage of Salmon Public Library​. The goal being to inspire creativity, spark imagination, ignite innovation, and foster empowerment using such tools as our Flashforge​ 3D printers and ZMorph​ multi-tool. Tools were provided through funding by Idaho STEM Action Center​ without whom a lot of this would not have been possible.

Out of that class a local, self identified maker, tinkerer, creator saw an opportunity. Could we use the ZMorph in order to print circuit boards? Well, it says it’s possible, so let’s go on this journey together. Normally the circuit designs were being sent off to Indiana to be printed and returned, but what if we could accomplish this locally….and at the library! So off we went.

A retired chiropractor and machinist, but more so an adult life long learner seizing the opportunity to add one more skill set to his arsenal. A sharing of knowledge between teacher & student so much so where one started and the other stopped you wouldn’t know who is who. He shared his knowledge of KiCad​ a software to design circuitry, and I my knowledge of our ZMorph Multi-tool. Together we lasered and CNC Milled working circuit boards that will solar charge your tractor battery, keeping them working over the long winter months. Brilliant.

What I love most about this story is not the product, but the process. I liked hearing “you’re a good teacher” but even beyond I loved seeing it in practice. How do I know? Because at the age of 69 years young, he comes in, wheels out the ZMorph on his own, refers to his diligent note taking, and has been empowered to work independently. But not only that, but I see him sharing this knowledge to the next entrepreneur who walks into the library and asks him, “What are you doing?” To which he gladly explains. To me, that is success. To me, that is ticking my boxes.

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Filed Under: Our Stories

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