The Hub & Spoke Workflow for Libraries
Outline
1. The Concept: One Lab, Many Access Points
Most libraries think they need to buy hardware for every single building. That is expensive and hard to maintain. The "Hub & Spoke" model changes the equation. You centralize your expensive equipment and expert staff at the "Main Library" (The Hub), while your smaller branches and patrons at home act as submission stations (The Spokes).
2. Transparent Costs for Patrons
It starts with the patron. Whether they are at home or on a Chromebook at a rural branch, they access your library’s public portal. The most common question—"How much will this cost?"—is answered instantly. Polar Cloud analyzes the file before it’s even submitted, displaying an estimated price based on your filament settings. No surprises at the checkout desk.
3. The Digital Handoff
Once the patron hits submit, they don't need to drive downtown. The file is securely "beamed" from their location directly to your Central Lab's queue. This bridges the digital divide, allowing a patron in a remote part of the county to access the same advanced technology as someone living next door to the Main Library.
4. The "Gatekeeper" Approval
This is the most critical step for staff sanity. The file doesn't go straight to the printer (which could cause a clog or failure). It lands on your Dashboard. A staff member reviews the digital file, checks it for safety and printability, and clicks the Approve button. If there is an issue, they hit Reject and the patron gets an email explaining why. You maintain total control.
5. Existing Logistics
Once the object is printed at the Main Lab, how does it get back to the patron? You use the infrastructure you already have: The Courier. Just like an inter-library loan book, the finished 3D print is bagged, tagged, and placed in the daily delivery van to be dropped off at the patron’s local branch.
6. Data That Wins Grants
Because every request is digital, you stop guessing about usage. You get hard data. You can track exactly how many jobs are coming from specific branches, how much filament is being used, and the total value of services provided. This is the "up and to the right" chart that Library Boards and grant committees love to see.
7. The Human Impact
Ultimately, this is about equity. The Hub & Spoke model ensures that this happy student gets to hold her creation, regardless of which branch she calls "home." You have turned a single machine at the Main Library into a community-wide innovation engine.
