Instructional Resources

SAIC remains committed to providing access to our world-class instructional resources. Included here is detailed information about the general availability and structure of access. While the instructional resources you have come to rely on at SAIC may look and operate differently, you will find most, if not all, continue to be available to students, faculty, and staff.

Instructional support resources will offer a mix of remote and in-person access and services. Please see below for the specific availability of resources, services, and contact information. While we have gone to great lengths to balance the need for access to resources and the community health implications of delivering them, we will continue to monitor needs and conditions and reassess our working methods on an ongoing basis. Please stay tuned for future communications about how we might change our services or hours to better support students and faculty, and extend our commitments to the SAIC learning environment.

What Will Be the Same?

You should expect…

  • Professional staff dedicated to supporting academic and artmaking goals
  • A diverse variety of contemporary tools and resources

What Will Be Different?

You should expect…

  • Modified facility hours
  • Resources for advanced planning of resource need and usage
  • An expansion of online and digitized services provided as an alternative to an in-person visit
  • No and low contact transactions and interactions
  • Overall lower in-person capacity limits
  • An expanded safety and sanitation program appropriate to the area of service

Below, please find updates on specific facility access, esources, and services available to students, faculty, and staff. More detailed information is available on specific web pages linked in descriptions

280 Woodshop, Metalshop, and Digital Labs

280 Woodshop
The 280 Woodshop will be open to all patrons Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The facility will be CLOSED on Sundays.

All services, including equipment checkouts and in-shop project support, will be available by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance during a project consultation or ‘virtual’ walk-in. The 280 Woodshop offers five individual workstations which can be reserved.

280 Metalshop
The 280 Metalshop will be open to all patrons Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The facility will be CLOSED on Sundays.

All services, including equipment checkouts and in-shop project support, will be available by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance during a project consultation or ‘virtual’ walk-in. The 280 Metalshop offers six individual workstations which can be reserved.

280 Digital Fabrication
The 280 Metalshop will be open to all patrons Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The facility will be CLOSED on Saturday and Sundays.

All services, including laser cutting, equipment checkouts, and 3D scanning will be available by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance. Additionally, all 3D printing is now technician run and we have implemented a digital submission process with remote payment options and contactless job pick up at multiple locations around campus.

Advanced Output Center
The AOC’s facilities will be closed during the first two weeks of the semester as we hire and train student staff on new operating procedures. During this time, however, AOC staff are on hand to provide remote consultations and answer any questions. Once operations resume on September 17, all services, including laser cutting, equipment checkouts, 3D scanning, and PC computer lab access will be available by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance. Additionally, all 3D printing is now technician run and we have implemented a digital submission process with remote payment options and contactless job pick up at multiple locations around campus. For more information, contact advancedoutput@saic.edu | Advanced Output Center Website | Schedule an Appointment

Departmental Making Places

Departmental production facilities may have modified hours and modified service provisions. The SAIC community is encouraged to touch base directly with departmental technical staff. For (much) more information visit Instructional Fabrication on Canvas

The John M. Flaxman Library, Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection, Fashion Resource Center, Roger Brown Study Collection, and Video Data Bank will continue to provide services and access to collections remotely through a variety of services, including class visits, instruction sessions, research consultations, and studio visits. However, we are also open to SAIC students, faculty, and staff by appointment only during reduced hours for the 20/21 Academic Year. Please see the Library Updates and Resources page for details. Please use the information below to set up appointments, request services, or for additional questions. We are here to help!

John M. Flaxman Library
Starting Thursday, January 28, 2021
Library Visits: Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
See our Visiting Flaxman Library page for information on Picking Up Library Materials and more.
Contact: flaxman@saic.edu | Remote Library Services | Schedule an Appointment

Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection and Library Special Collections
See this page for visiting information and to make an appointment.
Contact: jfabc@saic.edu | Using the JFABC Off Campus | Schedule an Appointment

Fashion Resource Center
See this page for visiting information and to make an appointment.
Contact: FRC@saic.edu | Using the FRC Off Campus | Schedule an appointment

Roger Brown Study Collection
See this page for visiting information and to make an appointment.
Contact: rbsc@saic.edu | Using the RBSC Off Campus | Schedule an appointment

Video Data Bank
Contact: info@vdb.org | Using the VDB Off Campus | Email to schedule an appointment.

Media Centers

Modified Operations for 20/21 Academic Year

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at MacLean and 280 Building locations only

  • All transactions may be reserved in advance through Patron Portal.
  • You can arrange for a no or low contact pickup transaction.
  • You may borrow portable production equipment for up to one week.
  • Equipment certification and training workshops are available online instead of in-person.

Material Source

Modified Operations for 20/21 Academic Year

Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at Sharp and 280 Building locations

  • You can pre-order materials you need through our Order Form.
  • You can arrange for a low contact pickup transaction.

Media Training

  • Information on all Media Training services and sessions can be found HERE

Service Bureau
The Service Bureau will continue to provide the SAIC community with the same professional quality output that we are known for through remote consultations, online order submissions, and contactless transactions. While the Service Bureau’s customer facing window will be closed to the public through the semester, staff are available for remote consultations and to offer assistance on proper file setup with printing projects for all faculty, staff and students. For more information: servicebureau@saic.edu | Service Bureau Website | Schedule an Appointment

Self-Service Printing
Printing across campus continues to be offered for color and b/w printing, copying, and scanning as well as large format printing available in every building on campus, including the residence halls, with instructions near copiers for near contactless transactions. Additionally, Print Services is now offering simplified printing from a web portal or mobile device via SAIC's new pay-for-print software, PaperCut, to reduce the need to print from public computers. For more information: saicprint@saic.edu | Print Services Website