CSUSB’s John M. Pfau Library Opens Innovation Lab

Students at Cal State San Bernardino will have access to new state-of-the-art technology – including 3-D printing, scanning and modeling – at a new Innovation Lab at the John M. Pfau Library. The lab is open to all CSUSB students, and along with 3-D printing, offers an array of leading-edge technology, including virtual reality headsets (OculusDK2 and Google Cardboard), computer numerical controlled milling, and hardware and electronic kits (Arduino; Raspberry Pi; LittleBits; Adafruit; Sparkfun). “The lab will serve as an incubator of ideas and invention, pushing the boundaries of innovation and inspiring students to imagine and create without fear of failure or being judged,” said Cesar Caballero, dean of the Pfau Library, who said he is excited about the lab’s potential. “It exemplifies the importance of emerging technologies as mediums for student expression and learning, as well as the evolution of academic libraries as centers of creativity and innovation.” Jonathan Smith, head of Library Information Technology, envisioned the lab as a place where students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds could interact, experiment, discover, and, significantly, learn from each other. To make it a reality, Smith applied for, and was awarded, a CSUSB Vital Technology Initiative grant, which provided the initial funding to purchase equipment and cover other related expenses. “The lab will encourage creativity and inquiry, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, and promote true innovation,” Smith said. “The ability to rapidly prototype solutions will give students a greater understanding of real-world problem-solving.” Along with access to technology, the lab will hold workshops for students with various skill-sets, from entry-level to advanced. An online schedule will show workshops when they become available. In addition, once students become experts in certain technologies, the lab will experiment with peer-to-peer instruction, providing rich, hands-on instruction opportunities to students who plan to pursue teaching careers in technology fields. Through the end of fall quarter, the lab will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. At this time, winter quarter hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., with the possibility of expanded access, based on student demand.