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CHICAGO — The “3D Printing Technology Training in the San Juan del Sur Nicaragua Public Library” project is this year’s recipient of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app’s International Relations Round Table (IRRT) Mission Enhancement Grant.

This project provides training—for library staff and local educators—in operating 3D printers at the . The library obtained the printers in 2019 through a donation from the , and put them to preliminary use in 2020 making face shields for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project expands the use of the 3D printers with a week-long training event—by a professional 3D printer trainer in Managua—for library staff members and local high school educators, in both the use and maintenance of the printers. They, in turn, will train local high school students, as part of the library’s cooperation with local schools in promoting innovative technology and entrepreneurship.

Funds from the will provide training manuals and workbooks, printer supplies, software, and maintenance tools, and trainer costs.

This year's project was submitted by IRRT member Jane C. Mirandette, President,Treasurer of the Hester J.Hodgdon Libraries for All Program and Director of the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

The International Relations Round Table Endowment fund was established in 2016. Interest from the Endowment is used to fund member-initiated proposals for international activities and initiatives which contribute to ’s role in international librarianship. Goals for the funding are to provide support for international projects or partnerships; promote a global dialogue about librarianship; increase visibility of international opportunities for U.S. and international librarians, and encourage international collaboration in librarianship. Information about the grant may be found at