All HPL Branches are closed on Friday, May 29, for Staff Professional Development Day. Bookmobile is off the road and Extended Access service is not available. Regular service hours resume on Saturday, May 30.
Visit our Virtual Branch at hpl.ca for our online resources and collections.
Please note that filming will take place nearby on the following dates.
May 18 – Filming Preparation (All Day)
May 19 – Filming (7am – 4pm), Concession Street (between Upper Wentworth and East 21st)
The accessible washroom at Greensville Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.
All HPL Branches are closed on Sunday, May 17. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access service is not available.
Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, May 19. Visit hpl.ca for our Virtual Branch.
All HPL Branches are closed on Monday, May 18. Bookmobile is off the road. Extended Access and Study Hall services are not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, May 19.
Due to Driver availability, Bookmobile has the following schedule modifications for the month of May. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Wednesday, May 13:
Thursday, May 14:
Monday, May 18: All Bookmobile sites closed
Due to software maintenance, HPL library's catalogue, online services and library accounts will not be available between 8am and 7pm on Monday, May 18. Thank you for your patience.
Renovations are currently underway for the 2nd floor Central Children's Area. Programs are still being offered as scheduled and there is a temporary pop-up Children’s Area on the northeast side of the 2nd floor (near the Piano Room), including access to collections and train tables. Construction is expected to be completed by late Spring. Thank you for your patience during this time.
As of Monday, March 2, Sherwood Branch's 2nd floor is closed due to renovations. Makerspace, Children and Teen's collection are temporarily available on the 1st floor. All programs will be held in the basement program room. Renovations are expected to be completed in late Spring. Thank you for your patience.
What HPL locations have 3D printers?
Central Library and Turner Park, Terryberry, Red Hill, Valley Park, Waterdown, and Dundas Branches all have 3D printers available for our Members. Central Library has multiple printers.
How much does 3D printing cost?
We charge $0.10/gram of material used in the print, with a minimum of $1. Charges are calculated at the time of booking and paid before printing begins. Most prints are under $10.
How does the process work?
Bookings for the 3D printing appointments can be made online. Choose a location, day and time that works best for you, then show up on your confirmed appointment date with 3D files loaded on a USB drive and/or external hard drive. HPL Staff will help get you started with preparing your print and are able to offer detailed instructions to follow. If you need in-depth assistance, we suggest you book an appointment with one of our knowledgeable Staff. Staff will check over the prepared file and establish a price for the print (paid at the time of booking). Once ready, your print will go into the printing queue, and you will be contacted to pick it up when it's finished. This could be anywhere from a matter of hours to a few days, depending on the length of the queue and printing time.
What file type does HPL require for 3D printing?
While there are several different 3D file formats, we ask that your files be in the .stl format for printing. While we can attempt to load other file types, we can’t guarantee they will work.
Where can I find 3D files to print?
Sites such as www.thingiverse.com and www.printables.com are a great start to find free 3D files for printing. Browse by category or search for something specific to find what you’re looking for. Alternatively, design your own 3D files with sites like www.tinkercad.com for custom prints.
What material is used for 3D printing?
HPL uses PLA (polylactic acid) plastic with its 3D printers, which is a derivative of corn starch and safe to use in our Makerspace environments.
Is there an email address I can send my 3D files to instead of arriving in person for my appointment?
Our previous ‘take-out’ model with email submissions was implemented as part of HPL’s Covid-19 strategy and is no longer necessary. We have returned and updated to our original 3D printing process to reflect a learning and engaging environment for our Members.
How long will it take to print my model?
Printing time will vary depending on decisions made when preparing the model during your appointment. Things like the quality and resolution of the print, how solid the model will be, and whether printing supports are necessary – all these things will affect the printing time. 3D printing in general is not a fast process and most models will take at least a few hours to print.
Is there a maximum amount I can print?
Members are allowed twelve (12) hours of printing time per week. This can be one long session or multiple shorter sessions, if needed.
What can I do if my print is longer than 12 hours?
We understand there may be some prints that require a longer print time than HPL can offer. There are numerous print shops and services locally that offer commercial 3D printing if the Library cannot accommodate your needs.
What colours are available? Can I print in more than one colour?
We have a wide variety of colours, metallics, and shades to choose from. Colour options can be found on the HPL website. Unfortunately, we cannot print in multiple colours, but pieces can be printed separately with different colours if needed. PLA also takes to acrylic paint quite well, and objects can be painted for further customization.
Please refer to HPL’s 3D Printing Guidelines for more details.
