THURSDAY, APR IL 30, 2020 • KOKOMO TR IBUNE / PHAROS-TR IBUNE
25
FROM STAFF REPORTS
A
lthough the Kokomo-Howard
County Public Library is tempo-
rarily closed to the public due to
COVID-19, several employees are
finding ways to serve the community.
One of those is Tommy Richter,
technology and reference assistant,
who is using KHCPL’s 3D printers to
make surgical mask straps, commonly
called ear-savers, for healthcare
workers.
The healthcare worker wearing a
mask simply loops the straps to the
ear-saver, which not only keeps the
straps from cutting into the person’s
ears – since they’re wearing them
all day, every day – but also forms a
tighter seal over the worker’s mouth
and nose because it pulls the mask
straps back to improve fit.
Richter delivered the first 80 to
Community Howard Regional Health
recently.
“I feel like it’s doing my part in
helping combat the virus,” Richter
said.
It takes about two hours to make
nine ear-savers. The cost is minimal,
just the expense of the plastic filament
and power to operate the 3D printers.
Richter has taught some of KHCPL’s
3D printing classes. In addition,
when patrons submit projects to be
printed, Richter helps print those.
“This is why we have these printers, to
help patrons. So we might as well use
them.”
“Community Howard Regional
Health has partnered with KHCPL
in a number of ways for many years,
so we reached out to them first,” said
Lisa Fipps, KHCPL director of mar-
keting. “Once we have supplied all
they need, we’ll work to make some for
other healthcare workers.”
“Many thanks to the Kokomo-
Howard County Public Library for
this creative and generous donation
of ‘ear-savers,’ ” said George Mast,
manager of corporate communica-
tions at Community Howard Regional
Health.
“Wearing a mask all day can be
uncomfortable, and we are grateful to
be able to make these available to our
caregivers. All of us at Community
Howard offer our sincere apprecia-
tion to the library and others that have
generously stepped forward to stand
beside us in this fight.”
“KHCPL has always served patrons
and the community and will continue
to do so even in this unprecedented
time,” Fipps said. “We’re just having
to be creative and resourceful. For
example, we’ve become a virtual
library, offering a variety of programs
and tutorials on our YouTube channel.
We’ve worked with vendors, such
as Ancestry Library Edition and
HOOPLA, to temporarily increase our
digital offerings to patrons.
And we couldn’t do what we’re
doing if it weren’t for our employees,
like Tommy, who are stepping up to
the plate and using their talents from
home or in new ways.”
MORE ONLINE:
Check out a video on how the ear-
savers are made:
watch?v=QIJTZyr7Kr0
TECH SUPPORT IN 3D
KHCPL makes, donates ear-savers for hospital
Tommy
Richter,
KHCPL
technology
and
reference
assistant,
delivers
ear-savers to
Community
Howard
Regional
Health.
Photo provided
